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The peaceful transfer of power included a reported rebuff as Melania Trump was expected to opt out of one White House tradition.

After nearly four years, President-elect Donald Trump was expected to make his first return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Wednesday following an invitation from President Joe Biden. As for First Lady Jill Biden’s invitation to her predecessor and successor, reports indicated the model-turned-stateswoman was once again opposed to exchanging pleasantries.

“Mrs. Trump is not going, and they have not spoken,” a source told the Daily Mail.

Noting that their husbands had spoken via phone following Election Day, the outlet indicated that the same was not true for the first ladies who had skipped the tradition in 2020, even as the Republican spouse had participated in the custom when she had been invited by then-First Lady Michelle Obama in 2016.

“The Bidens extended congratulations and a joint invite to the Trumps to meet at the White House,” the office of Jill Biden indicated.

Previously, Melania and Jill had both been in attendance at the November 2023 funeral of Rosalynn Carter, as were the other first ladies: Laura Bush, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama.

At the time, the former model’s high fashion left her standing out among the crowd of mourners as the Mail described her outfit as “a distinctive gray tweed coat, which she teamed with black shoes and leather gloves, while the others instead donned muted all-black ensembles.”

Amid speculation that the once and future first lady would be remaining in New York City where her son, Barron, had begun attending New York University, Semafor business and finance editor Liz Hoffman reported, “Goldman Sachs’s John Rogers will be helping Melania staff up the East Wing during the transition. He was an adviser to FLOTUS during the first term on personnel and ceremonial matters. Chairs the WH Historical Association, been consigliere to three Goldman CEOs.”

While she primarily remained off the campaign trail throughout her husband’s third White House bid, Melania increased her public presence once more when she released her self-titled memoir.

In addition to her speech at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, the first lady issued a statement following her husband’s sweeping victory and said on X, “The majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility.”

“We will safeguard the heart of our republic — freedom. I anticipate the citizens of our nation rejoining in commitment to each other and rising above ideology for the sake of individual liberty, prosperity, and security,” she continued. “American energy, skill, and initiative will bring together our best minds to propel our nation forward forevermore.”

Reactions to the report were hardly surprising with many encouraging and being supportive of Melania for avoiding the “awkward” situation.

Kevin Haggerty
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