The truth behind Melanias decision to snub Jill Biden for the White House visit after years of First Lady rivalry
Melania Trump has sensationally chosen to skip meeting with Dr Jill Biden for tea at the White House tomorrow in what will be seen by many as a snub to the incumbent First Lady.
Melania Trump has sensationally chosen to skip meeting with Dr Jill Biden for tea at the White House tomorrow in what will be seen by many as a snub to the incumbent First Lady.
As tradition goes, when the outgoing US president hosts the incoming president-elect in the Oval Office, the First Lady invites her successor for tea.
But Melanias decision will not come as a surprise to many who have observed her relationship with Jill since Donald Trumps first tenure as president.
The pair have had a history of frosty relations dating back to the Trumps decision not to host the Bidens at the White House after the contentious 2020 race.
Most recently, Melania voiced her distrust of Jill after revealing the incumbent First Lady had contacted her directly in the wake of the assassination attempt on her husband in July.
Melania questioned whether Jills concern was genuine as the phone call came just days after she reportedly branded her husband evil and a liar.
Melania Trump (left) has sensationally chosen to skip meeting with Dr Jill Biden (right) for tea at the White House tomorrow
Jill Biden (third right) and Melania Trump (second left) pictured together at the funeral of former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter in November last year
The two First Ladies also hit the headlines over the so-called Battle of the Jackets
The pairs apparent rivalry dates back to 2020 when Melania did not invite Jill for the customary tea and tour of the White House.
Their husbands did not meet either with the Trumps flying off to Florida early on January 20, 2021.
Melania and her husband were therefore not present at Bidens inauguration that took place in Washington later that day.
Trump had not formally conceded the presidency to Biden at the time after falsey arguing he had won.
Melania instead posted a seven-minute farewell video on her Twitter account, breaking with the 100-year-long First Lady tradition.
The past four years have been unforgettable. As Donald and I conclude our time in the White House, I think of all the people I have taken home in my heart and their incredible stories of love, patriotism and determination, she said in the video message.
The incoming President and First Lady had been expecting an invitation with Bidens daughter Ashley saying at the time on the Today show: No, I dont think theyre doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate.
The two First Ladies also hit the headlines over the so-called Battle of the Jackets.
One of Melanias most memorable fashion statements was when she wore a Zara jacket with the slogan I dont really care, do u? emblazoned across the back during a visit to see children detained at the US border in June 2018.
Melania was heavily criticised for the outfit but hit back saying it was merely a style choice.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in January 2021
Melania Trump and Michelle Obama had tea in the Yellow Oval Room in November 2016 shortly after Donald Trump won the presidential election
Jill then decided to make a bold contrasting statement on a visit to Cornwall for a G7 summit in June 2021.
She wore a blazer with the word Love on the back in glittering sequins - which many interpreted as a direct response to Melanias Zara number.
More recently, Melania gave a bombshell interview with Paris Match in October in which she revealed Jill had contacted her directly to voice concern following the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
Melania questioned, however, whether Jill was being genuine as the phone call came just days after she reportedly branded her husband evil and a liar.
Trumps wife said (translated to English): I do not know, however, if her concern was genuine, since, just days before, she had called my husband evil and a liar.
President Biden also posted on X following the shooting: I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trumps rally in Pennsylvania.
Im grateful to hear that hes safe and doing well. Im praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.
Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. Theres no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.
Jill and Melanias approaches to the role of First Lady have also often been compared.
While Melania was heavily criticised for her apparent lack of work during Trumps presidency, Jill has not shied away from showing how seriously she takes her role.
In 2021, Jill tweeted a picture of herself in the White House preparing for a meeting.
Melania Trump (right) will not meet with Jill Biden (left) on Wednesday when Donald Trump visits the White House to meet with President Joe Biden
Joe and Jill Biden enter the White House on Inauguration Day 2021 - the Trumps had already left and did not greet their successors
Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump dances accompanied by Melania Trump
Melania Trump leaves after casting her vote at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center polling place on November 3, 2020 in Palm Beach, Florida
Republican US president-elect Donald Trump stands with his son Barron (C) and wife Melania at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, US, November 9, 2016
Meanwhile she happily posed for a front cover of Vogue magazine, after Melania was recorded as saying: I dont give a f*** about Vogue or any magazine. They would never put me on the cover.
Melania and Jill are yet to speak in the aftermath of Kamala Harris humiliating defeat, even though their husbands had a cordial phone call, sources confirm.
The last time Jill Biden and Melania Trump would have seen each other would have been at Rosalynn Carters funeral in November of last year. All living former first ladies attended.
There have been numerous reports Melania Trump intends to be a part time first lady for her second term and may not even live full time at the White House. She has yet to announce an agenda or any staff hires.
Melania so hated the intense scrutiny she attracted as First Lady, she resisted moving into the White House for five months (blaming her sons education) and frequently didnt accompany her husband on official duties.
Now sources close to the third Mrs Trump say that she will remain only semi-attached to the second Trump presidency.
The public expect the First Lady to reside in the White House with the President, but insiders have revealed she is likely to divide her time between her private apartment there, the Trump resort of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, and their gold-encrusted penthouse apartment in Manhattan.
She definitely wont be going back to Washington to live, said a source. Shell stay between Florida and NYC. This is not what she signed up for.
And the Big Apple will always be her preferred base. New York has been Melanias favourite city since she moved to the US from Eastern Europe in 1996, and it now has the added attraction of being the place where Barron goes to university.
