U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet his Republican predecessor – and successor – Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, according to spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

The meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Wednesday in the Oval Office, the president’s office, Ms Jean-Pierre said on Saturday.

Mr Biden, 81, called Mr Trump shortly after the election to congratulate him on his victory and invite him to the White House.

The gesture is part of the usual protocol surrounding a power transition in the United States, although Mr Trump broke away from such conventions in 2020.

Mr Trump has never conceded losing the 2020 election to Mr Biden and did not attend his inauguration.

The meeting on Wednesday is one of the rare direct encounters between Messrs Biden and Trump.

They last faced each other on stage in a televised debate at the end of June, in which Mr Biden performed so poorly that he withdrew from the presidential race under pressure from his party shortly thereafter.

Mr Biden then supported Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

Mr Trump is set to be sworn in for his second term as president on January 20 after defeating Ms Harris earlier this week.

(dpa/NAN)