During the presidential transition phase, President Joe Biden called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on winning the election and to invite him to a meeting in the White House. Four years prior, Trump had declined this invitation. 

The White House released a statement regarding the phone conversation, saying, "President Biden emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together and expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition."  

Trump Campaign Spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the call, saying in a statement that “President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.” 

Biden’s outreach to Trump isn’t necessarily unusual – outgoing presidents traditionally meet with their successors before the formal inauguration. But it comes after Trump refused to extend a similar invitation to Biden during the 2020 presidential election. Trump also promoted fraudulent claims that the election was stolen and skipped Biden’s inauguration. 

That year, Trump pursued unsuccessful lawsuits to overturn the election results in battleground states, alleging unsubstantiated voting irregularities. Hours before Congress was slated to certify the results of the election, Trump urged then-Vice President Mike Pence during a speech on the Ellipse not to certify Biden's win.

A crowd of Trump supporters later marched to the Capitol, rioted and violently broke into the building in an effort to stop the counting of electoral votes.

The White House has yet to set a date for Trump and Biden’s encounter. Biden plans to address the country on Thursday to discuss the presidential transition efforts. 

Biden also called Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday to congratulate her on running a historical campaign. Harris conceded the election to Trump on Wednesday and promised to assist in the peaceful transfer of power to Republicans.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris told supporters Wednesday afternoon. “We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square, and we will also wage it in quieter ways, in how we live our lives, by treating one another with kindness and respect."