Melania Trump to Skip White House Visit with Bidens as Transition Traditions Shift

Incoming First Lady Melania Trump will reportedly break with tradition by not accompanying President-Elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, according to The Daily Mail. The customary meeting between the outgoing and incoming first couples is a long-standing tradition aimed at fostering a peaceful transition of power.

Typically, the outgoing First Lady hosts the incoming First Lady for tea in the residence, but Melania’s absence marks a continued departure from precedent. Back in 2016, then-First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Melania to the White House, hosting her in the Yellow Room. However, in 2020, Melania did not extend the same courtesy to Jill Biden after Biden’s victory over Trump, as Trump repeatedly contested the election results and did not acknowledge Biden’s win.

Now, following Trump’s recent election win over Vice President Kamala Harris, it appears the lack of communication between the two First Ladies will continue, as Melania has reportedly not spoken to Jill since the election. A source familiar with the situation confirmed, “Mrs. Trump is not going, and they have not spoken,” referring to the scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

The last time Melania and Jill would have seen each other was last November at former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral, where all living former First Ladies were in attendance. Melania is also reportedly planning a limited role in the White House for Trump’s second term, intending to serve as a “part-time First Lady.” She has not yet hired any East Wing staff or announced her official agenda, according to The Daily Mail.

Melania was largely absent during the campaign season, making only a single appearance at an October rally in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In another break from tradition, President Trump previously refused to host President-Elect Biden at the White House in 2020, refusing to concede the election and declining to attend Biden’s inauguration—a departure from the standard protocol for outgoing presidents since Andrew Johnson in 1869. Trump’s resistance to the transition process reportedly contributed to delays in the 2020 transfer of power.

Following Trump’s victory last week, President Biden assured the public of a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, emphasizing respect for the electoral process. “We accept the choice the country made,” Biden said. “You can’t love your country only when you win.”

According to Jill Biden’s office, the Bidens offered congratulations to the Trumps and extended a joint invitation to meet at the White House. Biden plans to meet with Trump on Wednesday, and the Bidens have expressed their intention to attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Tradition holds that the outgoing and incoming presidents ride together to the Capitol for the ceremony, a gesture underscoring the peaceful transition of power.

As Melania navigates her role in this unique transition, reports indicate she has started preparations for the East Wing but has yet to finalize any official plans. For now, her absence from these key transitional moments signals a significant shift in how traditional First Lady responsibilities may be approached in the coming term.