Biden and Trump are set to meet at the White House for discussions regarding the transition following Harris’s defeat

President Joe Biden is set to welcome President-elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday for a meeting aimed at showcasing a seamless transition between administrations, even though Trump’s team has not yet completed the necessary paperwork to initiate the handover process.

Biden, who initially ran against Trump in the 2024 election before stepping aside and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, will welcome the former and future president into the Oval Office, a traditional courtesy by outgoing presidents that Trump, a Republican, did not extend to Biden in 2020 when he won.

“He has faith in the established norms, he has confidence in our institution, he supports the peaceful transfer of power,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters on Tuesday regarding Biden’s decision to invite Trump. “That is what is considered standard.” That is what should occur.

Biden and Trump have engaged in pointed criticism of one another for years, with their teams maintaining significantly divergent stances on issues ranging from climate change to Russia to trade. Biden, 81, has depicted Trump as a danger to democracy, whereas Trump, 78, has characterized Biden as inept.

Trump asserted that there was extensive fraud in the 2020 election, despite these claims being unsubstantiated.

Trump’s visit to Washington is anticipated to feature a morning meeting with Republican lawmakers and House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, followed by a meeting with the current and future presidents at 11 a.m. EST.

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, is anticipated to attend the House meeting with Republicans alongside Trump, as per a source knowledgeable about the situation.

While Biden plans to utilize the meeting to demonstrate continuity, the transition is somewhat hindered.

According to the White House, Trump’s team, which has already revealed some members of the incoming president’s cabinet, has not yet finalized agreements for office space, government equipment, or access to government officials, facilities, and information.

“The Trump-Vance transition lawyers are actively collaborating with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers concerning all agreements outlined by the Presidential Transition Act,” stated Brian Vance, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, in reference to the law that oversees the transfer of power.

Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition, a non-profit that advises incoming administrations, stated that the agreement highlights the fact that the United States has only one president at a time and includes commitments to sign ethics pacts to ensure that no one profits from information shared during the transition.

“For interaction to commence with federal agencies, that requires a signature,” she stated. “All depends on that.”

Aside from meetings with federal agencies, Biden and Trump are expected to engage in discussions covering a wide range of topics, including foreign policy.

The departing president might encourage Trump to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. U.S. backing for Kyiv is now uncertain after Trump’s recent win against Harris, with Trump promising to swiftly conclude the war, though he has not detailed his plan for doing so.

Jean-Pierre chose not to specify the discussion points that would be addressed between the two men prior to their meeting.

The upcoming meeting marks the first occasion since the debate between the two men in June. Biden’s lackluster performance subsequently raised worries about his age among fellow Democrats and resulted in his exit from the race. Harris emerged as the Democratic nominee, conducting a shortened campaign that ultimately resulted in her defeat.