The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has decided to invite the elected leader, Donald Trump, to the White House, in a gesture aimed at showing a smooth transition between administrations. Despite the harsh exchanges of criticism between the two over the years, Biden has opted for this meeting, although the teams of both politicians differ in their positions on various policies, from climate change to trade issues and Russia.
Biden, 81, has portrayed Trump, 78, as a threat to democracy, while Trump has labeled him incompetent. The elected president initially competed against Trump in the 2024 elections and eventually backed Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Although the documents to initiate the transfer process between administrations have not yet been signed, Biden is expected to welcome Trump in the Oval Office.
The meeting between Biden and Trump, scheduled for the coming hours, seeks to follow a tradition of courtesy between outgoing and incoming presidents. In this case, Joe Biden is following this protocol, unlike the situation in 2020 when Trump, as the outgoing president, did not extend the same consideration to Biden. According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden believes in norms, institutions, and the peaceful transfer of power, which he considers essential for preserving democracy in the United States.
