Incoming first lady Melania Trump is breaking with tradition and will not meet with current first lady Jill Biden ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, though he will be meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Traditionally, when the outgoing president meets with the incoming president-elect in the Oval Office, the first lady hosts her successor for tea in the residence, DailyMail.com reported.
After the 2016 election, Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump for tea in the Yellow Room. However, following the contentious 2020 race, Melania Trump did not meet with Jill Biden after the 45th president claimed that the election was stolen.
Melania and Jill have yet to speak following Kamala Harris’ disappointing loss, despite their husbands having a cordial phone call, sources confirm, DailyMail.com noted.
“Mrs. Trump is not going, and they have not spoken,” a source told the outlet.
The last time Jill Biden and Melania Trump likely saw each other was at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in November of last year, where all living former first ladies were in attendance.
There have been several reports suggesting that Melania Trump plans to take a more part-time role as first lady during her husband’s second term and may not reside at the White House full-time. She has yet to announce any specific agenda or make staff appointments.
Melania’s refusal to meet with Jill Biden comes after Joe Biden’s outrageous claims about Donald Trump personally and his supporters ahead of the election. It also comes after Biden’s Justice Department indicted Trump twice over the past 18 months, making Trump the first former president to be charged with crimes.
