The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. On the morning of November 6, 2024, the world woke up to a political reality that felt like a fever dream for some and a long-awaited victory for others. News outlets had already called the race. Donald Trump was heading back to the White House.
But one question hung in the air: would Joe Biden pick up the phone?
Honestly, after years of public sparring and a deeply personal rivalry, nobody was quite sure how the outgoing president would handle the moment. We all remember 2020. The transition back then was anything but smooth. It was messy, litigious, and eventually culminated in the events of January 6. People were bracing for a repeat of that friction.
Instead, things went differently this time.
The Phone Call That Signaled a Shift
Yes, Joe Biden did congratulate Donald Trump. It happened on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
The White House confirmed that Biden reached out to the President-elect to officially offer his congratulations on the victory. It wasn't just a "good job" text either. It was a formal invitation. Biden invited Trump to the White House to kick off the transition process—a move intended to project stability to a very jittery nation.
Trump’s team actually seemed to appreciate the gesture. Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said the President-elect "very much appreciated the call" and was looking forward to the meeting. It was a rare moment of civility in an era defined by its absence.
Biden also called Vice President Kamala Harris that same day. He congratulated her on her "historic campaign," though the mood there was obviously much more somber.
"You Can’t Love Your Country Only When You Win"
The day after the call, Biden stepped into the Rose Garden. He looked tired but resolute. The speech he gave on November 7 was basically a plea for the country to lower the temperature.
He didn't mince words about the loss. He called it a "setback" but reminded his supporters that "giving up is unforgivable." The most quoted line from that address was a direct jab at the political divisiveness of the last decade: "You can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbor only when you agree."
Basically, he was trying to do the exact opposite of what happened four years prior. He promised a "peaceful and orderly transition." No lawsuits. No stalling the GSA (General Services Administration) paperwork. Just a straight hand-off.
The November 13 Meeting
The congratulations became face-to-face reality on November 13, 2024. Trump arrived at the White House for a two-hour meeting in the Oval Office.
It was a surreal visual.
The two men sat by the fireplace, shook hands, and exchanged brief pleasantries in front of a sea of cameras. Biden told Trump, "Welcome back," and promised to make sure the transition was as smooth as possible. Trump, for his part, acknowledged that "politics is tough," but thanked Biden for the professional reception.
Why This Handshake Actually Mattered
You might think this is just ceremonial fluff. It's not.
When a president refuses to congratulate their successor or delays the transition, it creates massive national security risks. Transition teams need access to classified briefings, agency data, and funding to hit the ground running on Day 1.
By making that call and hosting that meeting, Biden effectively greenlit the machinery of government to start moving toward the Trump era.
There were still some hiccups, though. The Trump team was actually a bit slow on the uptake with some of the legal paperwork. They didn't sign the official agreements with the GSA and the White House until late November, which actually delayed their access to some federal office spaces and funding. But from the Biden side, the "congratulations" was backed up by actual cooperation.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
A lot of folks assume that once the phone call happens, everything is "fixed." That's not how it works.
- The Personal vs. The Professional: Just because Biden called Trump doesn't mean they're friends now. In interviews months later, like one with The View in May 2025, Biden admitted he felt partially responsible for the loss because he was "in charge" when it happened. He remained critical of Trump's policies, especially on the border and foreign affairs.
- The "Shadow" Transition: Even before the official congratulations, transition teams are usually working in the background. Biden’s Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, had been in contact with Susie Wiles (Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff) to handle the nuts and bolts.
- The Family Dynamics: Interestingly, while the presidents met, the First Ladies didn't follow the exact same script. Melania Trump declined an invitation to meet with Jill Biden at the White House on that same day, though Jill did send a handwritten letter of congratulations to be delivered to her.
What Happens Next: Actionable Insights
Now that the 2024 election cycle is firmly in the rearview mirror and we are living in the reality of 2026, the "congratulations" moment stands as a benchmark for how American transitions might look going forward.
If you're following political developments or preparing for future cycles, here’s what you should keep an eye on:
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- Monitor GSA Compliance: The real "power" in a transition isn't the phone call; it's the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This allows the incoming team to talk to career officials at agencies like the DOD and State Department.
- Watch the "100-Day" Metrics: Historical data shows that a smooth transition (like the one Biden facilitated) usually leads to faster Cabinet confirmations. Contrast the 2025 confirmation speeds with the 2017 or 2021 cycles to see how much that early cooperation actually helped.
- Public Temperament: The way a loser concedes often dictates the behavior of their base. Biden’s decision to congratulate Trump early and publicly was a strategic move to prevent civil unrest.
The transition of 2024-2025 was a return to tradition, even if the underlying politics remained as polarized as ever. Biden’s call wasn't just a courtesy; it was a deliberate attempt to reset the "rules of engagement" for American democracy.