President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump met for the first time ever at the White House, stating they will work together to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

WASHINGTON — President Obama said he and successor-in-waiting Donald Trump had an "excellent conversation" Thursday as the intense rivals who defined the volatile 2016 election discussed the hand-off of the White House.

Just days after vicious attacks on the campaign trail, the two men spoke well of each other and shook hands for the cameras. Trump, who famously challenged the president's place of birth, called his predecessor "a very good man" following their Oval Office meeting.

Obama said his "number one priority" in the next two months in office is to facilitate the transition to the Trump administration. He said the two talked about "organizational issues," as well as domestic and foreign policies. "I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face," Obama told reporters.

In pledging a smooth transition, Obama told Trump that "we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed — because if you succeed, then the country succeeds."

Trump — noting that the meeting ran long — said: "Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you, and I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future."

The New York businessman also said: "We had never met each other. I have great respect."

The two shook hands for the cameras, but did not take questions from reporters.

Heading into the meeting, Obama and Trump struck conciliatory notes in the wake of Tuesday's surprising election results, following a campaign of searing rhetoric.

"It's time for America to bind the wounds of division," Trump said during his victory speech early Wednesday.

Obama is "quite sincere about fulfilling the basic responsibility that he has to the American people and our democracy to ensure a smooth transition to the next presidency," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.

After the meeting, Earnest said the two leaders did not resolve all of their differences, but did not try to either; their focus was a smooth transition.