(NewsNation) — President-elect Donald Trump heads to the White House on Wednesday to meet with President Joe Biden for a high-profile transition of power meeting.
Biden will welcome Trump to the Oval Office at 11 a.m., a traditional part of the peaceful handoff of power and a ritual that Trump himself declined to participate in four years ago.
Trump skipped Biden’s inauguration in January of 2021 and Biden recently called Trump’s supporters “garbage,” which could set the stage for an awkward interaction.
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The president-elect also planned to meet with Republicans from Congress as they focus on his Day 1 priorities and prepare for a unified government. His arrival amid GOP congressional leadership elections could put his imprint on the outcome.
Ahead of the visit, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Republicans are “ready to deliver” on Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Planning for a peaceful transfer of power
Biden has insisted that he’ll do everything he can to make the transition to the next Trump administration go smoothly. That’s despite having spent more than a year campaigning for reelection and decrying Trump as a threat to democracy and the nation’s core values. Biden then bowed out of the race in July and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.
Wednesday’s visit is more than just a courtesy call.
“They will go through the top issues — both domestic and foreign policy issues — including what is happening in Europe and Asia and the Middle East,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS of Wednesday’s meeting. “And the president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things … and talk to President Trump about how President Trump is thinking about taking on these issues when he takes office.”
Biden called to congratulate Trump on his victory last week and expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition, emphasizing the importance of working to bring the country together, according to the White House.
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Trump’s new administration
Trump has been busy over the past week, announcing his picks for his next administration one after the other. He has turned to loyalists and government outsiders to shape his cabinet.
Most recently, Trump tapped tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), an initiative meant to “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures” and restructure federal agencies. He said they’ll advise the White House and work with other offices to drive large-scale reforms.
Trump also nominated Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth to serve as the nation’s secretary of defense. Hegseth, 44, an army veteran and author, would be the second-youngest head of the Department of Defense if he’s confirmed by the Senate.
Others who have been nominated for Trump’s administration include Susie Wiles for White House chief of staff, Stephen Miller for deputy chief of policy, Tom Homan as the new “border czar,” New York Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador, Lee Zeldin for EPA administrator, Florida Rep. Mike Walz for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Homeland Security secretary.
The Associated Press and the Hill contributed to this report.
