Bidens Bring Donald and Melania Trump to the White House for Tea Before the Inauguration: 'Welcome Home'

Mar. 15, 2025

The Trumps and Bidens greeted each other at the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, ahead of President-electDonald Trump’s inauguration, symbolically reinforcing the peaceful transfer of power in the United States.

Trump, 78, will soon be sworn into office as the 47th president of the United States. Before taking the presidential oath of office, however, Trump and incoming first ladyMelania Trump, 54, joined outgoing PresidentJoe Biden, 82, and first ladyJill Biden, 73, for a private tea at the White House.

Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Melania Trump meet for tea at the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greet President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump as they arrive at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025, before departing for the US Capitol where Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US President.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

“Welcome home!” President Biden told his successor upon the Trumps' arrival.

The four will then ride to the U.S. Capitol together for the swearing-in ceremony.

The Bidens greet the Trumps at the White House before the 2025 inauguration.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greet President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump as they arrive at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025, before departing for the US Capitol where Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US President.

Such anexchange did not occur in 2021— which, like now, would have involved the Trump and Biden families, albeit in opposite roles.

The Bidens and Trumps stand outside the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose alongside President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump as they arrive at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025, before departing for the US Capitol where Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US President.

ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

It has long been tradition that departing U.S. presidents attend the incoming president’s inauguration and extend the hospitality of a White House visit.

Presidents Biden and Trump began reinforcing the smooth transition between their administrations when met at the White House on Nov. 13, 2024, one week after Trump’s victory in the election against former Vice PresidentKamala Harris.

At the time,Melania declined Jill’s invitation to join, forcing Jill to send President Trump back with a letter for the incoming first lady instead.

Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris and J.D. Vance before the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, 2025.Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Usha Vance, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. Vice President-elect former Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) stand together at the White House ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Harris also traveled to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, with second gentleman Doug Emhoff so that they could participate in the transfer of power and meet with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and soon-to-be second lady Usha Vance.

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Harris and Emhoff will similarly attend the 2025 inauguration despite their disappointment with the 2024 election results.

source: people.com

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