Donald Trump is scheduled to return to the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with President Joe Biden, marking his first visit since leaving office amid controversy nearly four years ago.
The meeting, which takes place at 11:00 am (1600 GMT), comes as Trump moves quickly to shape his administration, including plans to appoint tech billionaire Elon Musk to lead a new initiative to cut government spending.
Despite their long-standing rivalry, Biden extended an invitation to Trump, underscoring his commitment to the peaceful transition of power.
“The American people deserve this. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday, adding that Biden believes strongly in “the norms and institutions of our democracy.”
Biden, 81, is expected to urge a smooth transition and reinforce his stance on supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, a stance Trump has signalled he may reverse.
“He believes in the norms. He believes in our institutions,” Jean-Pierre reiterated, underscoring Biden’s belief in upholding democratic values.
In a notable break with tradition, Trump’s wife, Melania will not accompany him to the White House. Her office confirmed her absence in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), though no further details were provided.
National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan indicated that Biden would use the meeting to discuss key foreign policy matters, including ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine, which Trump has expressed scepticism about. This policy stance represents a major point of contrast between the two leaders as they discuss the future direction of U.S. foreign relations.
Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson hinted that Trump might also visit the U.S. Capitol, where his supporters infamously stormed the building in 2021 following his election loss.
With Republicans poised to take both chambers of Congress, Trump’s return to the Capitol could signal a consolidation of his political comeback
