Trump Set to Return to Washington for Power Transfer Ceremony, Meeting with Biden
President-elect Donald Trump will return to Washington on Wednesday, entering the White House for the first time since his defeat in the 2020 election, NBC News reports.
This visit marks a symbolic gesture of a peaceful transfer of power.
Trump, who refused the 2020 election results, will be meeting with President Joe Biden for a ceremony at the White House.
Vice President-elect JD Vance, however, might not be joining Trump on this trip. Sources familiar with the discussions reported that as of Tuesday evening, Vance had not received any outreach from Vice President Kamala Harris regarding a potential visit or otherwise since last week’s election.
Trump, who has been in Florida since the election, has been busy assembling his cabinet and other key positions, primarily filled with loyalists. His return to Washington comes on the heels of a successful election for his party, with Republicans securing control of the Senate and possibly the House of Representatives as well.
Trump is scheduled to address House Republicans before heading to the White House, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. He might also meet with Senate Republicans who will hold closed-door meetings to elect a new leader on Wednesday.
The White House has extended invitations to both Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump. While Melania Trump accepted the invitation and met with former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2016, she is not expected to accompany her husband this year. The White House has not confirmed whether First Lady Jill Biden will participate in the greeting with Trump.
Top staffers from the White House and Trump’s transition team are also expected to meet, according to officials from both sides.
In 2016, former President Barack Obama invited Trump to the White House two days after the election. Their meeting in the Oval Office lasted for 90 minutes and was described by Obama as an “excellent conversation” that was “wide-ranging.” Biden also met with Vice President-elect Mike Pence during that time, and the Bidens hosted the Pences at the Naval Observatory six days later.
Following the 2020 election, Trump refused to invite Biden for a visit and actively stalled the transition process. He denied access to government resources and information to incoming Biden officials, a move that hampered the smooth transition of power.
