President Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, marking a traditional post-election meeting, the White House announced. Biden congratulated Trump on his victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and invited him to discuss the transition.
The meeting, scheduled for 11 a.m., reflects a longstanding tradition, although Trump did not extend the same invitation to Biden after losing in 2020. The two briefly met in Lower Manhattan for a 9/11 memorial, but this will be their first in-depth conversation since Biden’s debated performance earlier this year, which prompted Democratic leaders to urge him to step aside.
Biden emphasized his commitment to a peaceful transition: “I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve.” He affirmed the integrity of the election, stating, “It is honest, it is fair, it is transparent, and it can be trusted.”
Acknowledging the polarized political climate, Biden urged unity: “You can’t love your country only when you win… Something I hope we can do no matter who you voted for is see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans.”
Biden praised Harris’s campaign, saying, “She’s been a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character.” Biden is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration in January.
