President Joe Biden will meet with his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, this Wednesday in the Oval Office, the White House announced on Saturday.
Biden extended the invitation to Trump, who won a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in last week’s presidential election. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the meeting is set for 11 a.m. ET.
In January, Biden will join a very small group of U.S. presidents who have returned power to a predecessor, the only previous instance being when President Benjamin Harrison handed the White House back to Grover Cleveland in the 19th century.
In a speech on Thursday, Biden said he assured Trump of his commitment to a smooth and orderly transition, adding, “That’s what the American people deserve.”
Unlike Trump, who declined to concede the 2020 election or meet with Biden before leaving office, Biden reached out to Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory.
Biden, 81, had exited the race in July due to concerns about his mental fitness. Exit polls showed that voters prioritized economic concerns, with inflation remaining a significant issue following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following Harris’s loss, Democrats are examining the reasons for the defeat, with Biden accepting much of the responsibility. Meanwhile, Trump is beginning to assemble his new administration.
He has named his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as his incoming White House chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the role and the first official appointment of his second term