In a striking departure from long-standing White House tradition, former First Lady Melania Trump has declined an invitation to join current First Lady Jill Biden for tea at the White House, with sources citing lingering resentment over the 2022 FBI search of her Mar-a-Lago residence.
According to reports from The New York Post, Mrs. Trump’s decision marks a significant break from a cherished White House custom that traditionally serves as a symbol of peaceful transition between administrations. Sources close to the former First Lady quoted her as saying, “The Bidens are disgusting,” adding that “Jill Biden isn’t someone Melania needs to meet.”
Historical context
The rejection is particularly noteworthy as Mrs. Trump herself participated in this tradition in 2016 when then-First Lady Michelle Obama hosted her following Donald Trump’s electoral victory. However, the Trumps did not extend the same courtesy to the Bidens in 2020, setting a precedent for the current situation.
Despite Mrs. Trump’s decision, President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday, November 13, maintaining at least one aspect of the traditional transition protocols.
Mar-a-Lago investigation impact
The root of Mrs. Trump’s refusal appears to stem from the controversial 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, which was conducted as part of an investigation into classified documents allegedly removed from the White House after the Trump presidency. The case was later dismissed by U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon in July.
Personal testimony
In a revealing September interview with Fox and Friends, Mrs. Trump expressed her deep distress over the FBI search. “You get angry because, you know, nobody should be putting up with that kind of stuff,” she stated, describing the unsettling experience of finding her personal spaces, including her closet and her son Barron’s room, searched by federal agents. “I saw unpleasant stuff that nobody wants to see,” she added, characterizing the incident as an “invasion of privacy.”
This latest development underscores the continuing political tensions between the Biden and Trump families, even as the nation prepares for another potential transition of power.