Biden and Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House says
WASHINGTON — President Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump for a traditional postelection meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said Saturday.
Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing incumbent and the incoming president, and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America’s democracy.
But Trump, a Republican, did not host Biden, a Democrat, for a sit-down after the 2020 election, when Trump lost his reelection bid.
Trump disputed Biden’s win without evidence and tried to overturn the results.
On Jan. 6, 2021, when lawmakers had gathered at the U.S. Capitol to certify Biden’s win, a mob of Trump supporters breached the building after the outgoing president encouraged them to march there,telling them, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Trump sought the presidency four years after his loss, continuing to claim falsely that the 2020 election was stolen and floating new false allegations of cheating in the 2024 election before the count went his way.
He defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s vote, making him the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election.
World leaders swiftly weighed in, from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump.
The White House said Biden called Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him and invite him to meet in the Oval Office.
In a speech Thursday, Biden said he had assured Trump “that 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.”
Their meeting is set for 11 a.m.
Superville writes for the Associated Press. Los Angeles Times staff contributed to this report.
Ukrainians fear Trump will cut off military aid for the war against Russia, even as Ukraine’s leader aims to win him over with congratulations and praise.
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