Washington, November 13, 2024-Former and incoming President Donald Trump is set to visit the Oval Office today, answering an invitation from President Joe Biden. This ceremonial meeting between the outgoing and incoming leaders is intended to demonstrate a commitment to a peaceful transfer of power.
In 2020, Trump did not acknowledge Biden’s victory and declined to invite him to the Oval Office. However, in 2016, then-President Barack Obama welcomed Trump for a meeting just two days after Trump’s win over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. During that meeting, Trump praised Obama as a “very good man,” expressing honor and hope for future meetings—a cordial exchange despite their eventual political fallout.
While the Obama-Trump relationship became strained over time, the Biden-Trump dynamic is even more contentious. Biden campaigned against Trump twice, winning in 2020 with a message that Trump was a danger to U.S. democracy. During the 2024 race, Biden and Trump met on the debate stage in June, where the exchange effectively ended Biden’s campaign. Trump frequently cited the debate as a turning point, often claiming he delivered a “knock-out punch” and accusing opponents of a “coup” that ousted Biden from the race.
Despite their rocky history, Biden reached out to Trump the day after the election, congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to the White House. Speaking in the Rose Garden last week, Biden assured his team and cabinet members that he would ensure a “peaceful and orderly transition,” adding, “That’s what the American people deserve.”
