Recent President-Elect Meetings with Foreign Heads of State
A number of recent president-elects have had meeting with foreign heads of state before officially taking office.
- November 15, 1988: President-Elect George H.W. Bush met with West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
- January 8, 1993: President-Elect William J. Clinton met with Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.
- December 18, 2000: President-Elect George W. Bush met with French President Jacques Chirac.
- January 12, 2009: President-Elect Barack Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
- November 17, 2016: President-Elect Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Complied by the White House Historical Association. Please credit the Association by its full name when using this as background material. Specific sources consulted available upon request.
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About the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.