The United States President, Joe Biden, has extended an invitation to President-elect Donald Trump for an Oval Office meeting to facilitate a smooth transfer of power, four years after Trump was ousted from the White House.
The move marked a key step in the presidential transition process as Biden prepared to hand over the reins of government to his predecessor and incoming successor.
“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call,” said Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung in a statement.
The invitation followed a call by Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, urging the Trump team to sign the necessary federal agreements required to initiate an orderly transition. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the push for the agreements, which are mandated by the Presidential Transition Act.
Currently, formal transition talks between the Biden and Trump teams have not yet begun in earnest. According to sources close to the Trump campaign, the president-elect has been occupied with congratulatory calls from domestic and international leaders, donors, and key supporters. Transition discussions were expected to pick up later in the week, with the focus shifting toward forming an inaugural committee and selecting a formal transition team.
Zients reached out to Trump’s transition co-chairs, Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, to stress the importance of the agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration (GSA) in beginning the transition.
The delay in signing the agreements has reportedly held up the processing of security clearances for Trump’s incoming national security appointees, limiting their ability to access sensitive information ahead of Inauguration Day.
The agreements, prescribed by the Presidential Transition Act, set standards for ethics and limit private donations to ensure transparency. Congress established deadlines of September 1 for the GSA agreement and October 1 for the White House agreement, aiming to prepare incoming administrations to govern effectively by January 20, the day Trump is set to take office.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Lutnick and McMahon indicated that Trump would begin selecting personnel for his administration in the “days and weeks ahead,” but did not address the pending agreements with the Biden administration.
“As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on Day 1,” the statement read.
The White House confirmed that Biden had spoken directly with Trump, expressing his commitment to ensuring a peaceful and smooth transition. Biden also emphasised the need to unify the country in the coming months.
Additionally, Biden reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris to commend her for her efforts during the campaign. Trump and Harris also spoke briefly, with Trump acknowledging Harris’ “strength, professionalism, and tenacity” throughout the election season. Both leaders agreed on the importance of working to bring the country together during this pivotal period, according to Cheung.
