Presidential transition of Barack Obama
（重定向自Change.gov）
![](/Images/godic/202501/04/President_George_W._Bush_and_Barack_Obama_meet_in_Oval_Office2931.jpg")
![In keeping with tradition, President Bush left a letter (shown here on the Resolute desk) to Obama in the Oval Office.](/Images/godic/202501/04/EnvelopeFromBushtoObama2931.jpg")
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![Living presidents George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and President-elect Barack Obama at the White House Oval Office on January 7, 2009](/Images/godic/202501/04/Five_Presidents_Oval_Office2932.jpg")
The presidential transition of Barack Obama began when he won the United States presidential election on November 4, 2008, and became the President-Elect. He was formally elected by the Electoral College on December 15, 2008. The results were certified by a joint session of Congress on January 8, 2009, and the transition ended when he was inaugurated at noon on January 20, 2009.