After his decisive election victory over Vice President Harris, President-elect Trump will meet President Biden at the White House next week. The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday, as confirmed by the White House in a statement on Saturday.
This event is a customary part of the peaceful transition of power between the incoming and outgoing presidents. In 2020, this tradition was interrupted by Trump’s unfounded claims of a stolen election. He never conceded to Biden’s victory and skipped the 2021 inauguration.
Earlier this week, Trump was declared the winner of the White House race, securing crucial victories in key battleground states. Harris conceded the race to her Republican opponent in a speech on Thursday afternoon at Howard University, her alma mater.
On Thursday morning, Biden shared in his own address that he had extended an invitation to Trump to meet in the Oval Office. Although Biden had dropped out of the race in late July to support Harris, he called Trump after the election results were announced to offer his congratulations.
In that conversation, Biden emphasized his commitment to facilitating a smooth transition, stating that his administration would “work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.”
He also commended Harris and her campaign, acknowledging their efforts despite the defeat. Trump accepted Biden’s invitation, with his campaign stating that he was “looking forward to it” and expressing appreciation for the congratulatory call.