A meeting between President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump went better than most people expected.

The pair met in the White House Thursday to discuss the transition process and handing over the office of the presidency.

Obama said that he and Trump had an "excellent" and "wide-ranging" conversation.

Trump said that he's looking forward to benefiting from Obama's "counsel" in the future.

Trump noted that the meeting was expected to be short, but lasted nearly 90 minutes. He said as far as he's concerned, it could have gone on much longer.

Trump said that Obama explained "some of the difficulties" but also "some of the really great things that have been achieved," by being president.

First lady Michele Obama met with Melania Trump while their two husbands met. The two women discussed what it will be like to be first lady, as well as the challenges of raising children in the White House.

Mrs. Trump's 10-year-old son Barron Trump will become a teenager during Trump's first term. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says that's "a rather unique childhood."

Barron Trump will be the first "first son" to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr. in the 1960s.

After the White House meeting, Trump met with House Speaker Paul Ryan at the U.S. Capitol. House Speaker Ryan said they had a "fantastic, productive meeting."

Trump called the meeting "an honor." He added that, "I think we're going to do some absolutely spectacular things for the American people."

Ryan then took Trump, Melania Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence out onto his balcony overlooking the National Mall. Ryan pointed to where the inaugural platform being is built. That's where Trump will be sworn in.