President Joe Biden will welcome President-elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday, marking the start of a historic transfer of power in the Oval Office.
This meeting, set for 11 a.m. local time, is a longstanding tradition in U.S. politics that symbolizes a peaceful transition of power.
The White House announced on Saturday that Biden invited Trump to discuss the handover, aiming to maintain stability during the transition.
Biden reached out to Trump in a phone call this past Wednesday, congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to the traditional meeting for incoming and outgoing presidents.
In a speech on Thursday, Biden emphasized the importance of a peaceful handover, saying, “I assured President-elect Trump that my administration will work closely with his team to ensure a smooth and orderly transition. This is what the American people deserve.”
Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the Democratic candidate, has marked a historic comeback.
He is the first former U.S. president to regain office after losing it since Grover Cleveland did so in the 1892 election.
For Biden, this transfer of power is especially poignant.
When Biden won in 2020, Trump, then the sitting president, refused to meet him at the White House, breaking a long-standing tradition.
Trump, who never formally conceded his loss in 2020, has now returned to the White House after a decisive win in the November 5 election.
In this year’s campaign, Trump ran on a platform emphasizing economic recovery, inflation control, and hardline conservative principles, which have resonated with a large section of voters.
Exit polls showed that the economy and rising inflation were voters’ top concerns, giving Trump an edge over Biden, whose presidency has faced challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden, who is 81, decided not to run for a second term and stepped aside in July, expressing concerns over his ability to continue as president.
In his congratulatory call to Trump, Biden urged Americans to “bring down the temperature” of political tension and emphasized national unity, a stark contrast to the divided atmosphere of the last decade.
Political analysts are calling Trump’s victory a “comeback of historic proportions,” dubbing his return as “Trump 2.0.”
Trump’s re-election campaign drew wide support despite his controversial past, including two impeachments, a criminal conviction, and warnings from former aides who called him a divisive figure.
One of Trump’s first actions as President-elect was to select Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as his White House chief of staff.
This appointment is a significant milestone, as Wiles will be the first woman to hold this key role in Trump’s administration.
The announcement has signaled a new chapter in Trump’s leadership, with Wiles expected to bring experience and a fresh perspective to the team.
