US President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, following Biden’s recent commitment to an orderly transfer of power back to the Republican he defeated in the 2020 election.
Trump, who never conceded his 2020 loss, made a historic return to the presidency in the November 5 election, marking what will be over a decade of US politics dominated by his hardline right-wing agenda. With this comeback, Biden will join a rare group of US presidents who have handed power back to a predecessor, a precedent last seen in the 19th century when President Benjamin Harrison returned power to Grover Cleveland.
The meeting will take place in the Oval Office at 11:00 AM (1600 GMT), according to the White House. As the clock ticks down to Trump’s return to office in January, the two leaders will discuss the transition.
Trump, now 78, secured a wider victory margin than before, despite facing a criminal conviction, two impeachments, and critical remarks from his former chief of staff, who described him as a “fascist.” Exit polls indicated that the economy and inflation, which surged under Biden following the Covid pandemic, were key concerns for voters.
Biden, who had previously dropped out of the race in July due to concerns about his ability to serve at 81 years old, called Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his election win. In a televised address, Biden urged Americans to “bring down the temperature,” contrasting his approach with Trump’s continued refusal to accept his 2020 defeat.
Trump, upon returning to the White House, is expected to dismantle many of Biden’s signature policies, particularly in the realm of climate change, as he continues to advocate for expanding oil drilling, rejecting Biden’s green energy initiatives.
AFP
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