**Trump Welcomed with Standing Ovation by House Republicans**

President-elect Donald Trump received a warm reception from House Republicans upon his return to Washington, greeted with a standing ovation at an internal GOP conference held at the Hyatt Regency near the Capitol. Addressing the room with characteristic confidence, Trump opened by saying, "It's nice to win."

Accompanied by billionaire Elon Musk, Trump made his first visit to Joint Base Andrews since leaving office in January 2021. Musk’s presence underscored the influential new relationships that may define Trump's upcoming term. In a sign of strong support, House Speaker Mike Johnson lauded Trump as the "comeback king" before Trump took the stage, shaking hands with top GOP members including Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has been named as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

The atmosphere among Republicans was buoyant as they inched closer to reclaiming a House majority. Although ABC News has not projected the final control of the chamber, Republicans were just two seats away from the majority with a dozen races still undecided. As House Republicans returned for the lame-duck session, they expressed readiness to enact Trump's agenda immediately upon his inauguration in January.

In his address, Trump thanked the assembled lawmakers for their support, acknowledging mutual efforts to secure their elections. "You've been incredible," he remarked. As the press was being escorted out, Trump humorously hinted at a potential future run, contingent on continued GOP support.

The meeting set the stage for Trump's forthcoming sit-down with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, a tradition Trump skipped in 2020. This event marked his first public appearance since his early morning speech following Election Day. Since then, Trump has been at Mar-a-Lago, focusing on Cabinet appointments and other key administrative roles. Musk has been involved in several of these decisions, according to previous reports by ABC News.

Additionally, Trump announced a new initiative led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a "Department of Government Efficiency," aimed at reforming federal agencies and reducing government waste.