The outgoing First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, delivered a congratulatory letter to the president-elect, the Republican Donald Trump, for his wife, Melania Trump, after she declined to meet with her at the White House. Biden invited Trump to the White House on Wednesday to begin the transfer of power that will culminate on January 20 with the Republican's inauguration.
"She handed Mr. Trump a handwritten congratulatory letter for Mrs. Trump, in which she also expressed her team's willingness to assist with the transition," detailed the First Lady's office in a statement. The meeting between the First Ladies did not take place, so Jill Biden decided to greet Donald Trump upon his arrival and personally delivered the letter addressed to Melania Trump.
Melania Trump chose not to attend the meeting at the White House, contrasting with the tradition of such meetings to initiate the transition process between incoming and outgoing presidents. The last time this did not happen was in 2016, when Barack Obama invited Trump to start the transition.
In 2016, then-First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump at the White House and accompanied her on a tour of the presidential residence. Currently, Melania Trump primarily resides in New York while her husband Trump lives in Florida. Barron Trump, the couple's son, studies in New York, which may influence the family's choice of residence.
When Donald Trump began his first term in 2017, Melania Trump preferred to stay in New York for a few months to allow Barron to complete the school year before moving to the White House. Melania Trump's office expressed well wishes for the start of the transition process in a brief statement but did not provide details about the First Lady's absence from the meeting at the White House.
