The Trumps and Bidens greeted each other at the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, ahead of President-elect Donald 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 lady Melania Trump, 54, joined outgoing President Joe Biden, 82, and first lady Jill Biden, 73, for a private tea at the White House.
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“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.
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Following tradition, the presidential tea time is how the Obamas welcomed the Trump family to the White House in 2017, when outgoing President Barack Obama and outgoing first lady Michelle Obama waited on the steps outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrived at the White House.
Such an exchange did not occur in 2021 — which, like now, would have involved the Trump and Biden families, albeit in opposite roles.
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Following his loss in the 2020 election, Trump notably did not attend President Biden’s inauguration nor welcome him to the White House, instead flying back to his home state of Florida with his family on Inauguration Day.
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 President Kamala 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.
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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.
