Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump is set to make a triumphant return to the White House to meet President Joe Biden on Wednesday, marking his first visit since leaving under a cloud of scandal nearly four years ago. Trump's meeting with Biden comes as he quickly moves to assemble his top team, including appointing the world's richest man, Elon Musk, as head of a new group focused on reducing government waste. Democrat Biden invited his long-time rival to the Oval Office, despite Trump's refusal to acknowledge his 2020 election loss and his lack of courtesy towards Biden. Biden, 81, is expected to emphasize a smooth transition of power during their 11:00 am (1600 GMT) meeting and to push for continued support for Ukraine.
"He believes in the norms. He believes in our institutions," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday when asked why Biden was inviting Trump. "The American people deserve this. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power." US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that Biden would discuss key foreign policy issues with Trump, including US support for Kyiv against Russia, which Trump has criticized. "The president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things, where they stand, and talk to President Trump about how President Trump is thinking," Sullivan told CBS on Sunday.
However, the meeting may be challenging for Biden, who previously labeled Trump a threat to democracy and was competing against him for the presidency until a poor debate performance forced the Democrat out of the race in July. House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that Trump might also visit the US Capitol, the site of a 2021 mob attack by his supporters attempting to overturn his election loss, though these plans are not yet finalized. With his party poised to control both chambers of Congress, Trump's remarkable comeback appears consolidated.
Biden's invitation to the Oval Office revives a presidential transition tradition that Trump shattered when he lost the 2020 election, refusing to meet with Biden or attend the inauguration. Former President Barack Obama had welcomed Trump to the White House after his 2016 election win. However, by the time Trump left the White House on January 20, 2021, he had been repudiated by many in his own party for inciting the Capitol riot. Yet, this period of disgrace quickly faded as Republicans rallied back to Trump, recognizing his unique electoral influence within his right-wing movement.
At 78, Trump enters his second term with nearly complete control over his party and the Democrats in disarray. He has spent the week since the election at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling his top team, while the world watches to see how closely he adheres to his promises of isolationism, mass deportations, and sweeping tariffs. Trump appointed Space X, Tesla, and X boss Musk, along with another loyal ally, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a "Department of Government Efficiency ('DOGE')"—a playful reference to an internet meme and cryptocurrency. In a series of announcements, Trump also selected Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth as his incoming defense secretary, known for his opposition to so-called "woke" ideology in the armed forces.
Trump further named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who famously wrote about shooting her dog for not responding to training, as head of the Department of Homeland Security. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly in line for secretary of state, while Trump confirmed Congressman Mike Waltz, a former special forces officer, as his national security advisor. Both have hawkish views on China but are not considered isolationists, despite Trump's previous threats to withdraw from or reduce obligations to alliances like NATO.
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