The Tense Encounter Between Biden and Trump

The last meeting between President Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump was far from amicable. During their debate in Atlanta in June, Biden labeled Trump a “convicted felon” and accused him of having “the morals of an alley cat.” In response, Trump referred to Biden as a “Manchurian candidate” with alleged ties to China, claiming he was “paid by China.” Following a somewhat muddled response from Biden, Trump remarked that he did not comprehend Biden’s statement, adding, “I don’t think he knows what he said, either.”

Despite the passage of a week since Trump decisively defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the presidency—inflicting a significant setback on Biden’s agenda and legacy after a lengthy career spanning half a century—there is scant evidence that the animosity between the two has dissipated.

However, four and a half months after their heated exchange in Atlanta, the two leaders are set to meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday for the customary handoff ritual between outgoing and incoming presidents. Biden extended an invitation to Trump, who accepted the offer.

What the two political adversaries will discuss in private remains uncertain, as does what they might share with the public following their meeting. They are scheduled for a brief photo opportunity in front of reporters once their meeting concludes.

History indicates that both Biden and Trump might conduct themselves with the decorum that was notably absent from their interactions over the past four years, especially during the campaign.

• In 2016, after Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama invited him to the Oval Office. What was initially expected to be a brief meeting lasting under 30 minutes extended to nearly 90 minutes.
• Upon leaving, Trump expressed gratitude to Obama and stated he looked forward to receiving his guidance throughout his presidency.

However, that friendly overture was rarely echoed during Trump’s four years in office. After Biden defeated Trump in 2020, Trump refused to concede the election and did not extend the traditional invitation for Biden to visit the White House.

It’s likely that Biden has not forgotten this snub, although it remains ambiguous whether he desired to meet with Trump back in 2020. Nevertheless, Biden is known as an institutionalist, someone who has consistently shown respect for the traditions and protocols of the White House and the Senate, where he served for 36 years prior to becoming Obama’s vice president. This respect for tradition likely influenced his decision to extend an invitation to Trump, an offer he did not receive himself.