Melania Trump has declined an invitation from Dr. Jill Biden for a traditional meeting at the White House, citing lingering grievances over the 2022 FBI raid of the Trumps' Mar-a-Lago residence, according to sources close to the matter. The former first lady's decision marks another chapter in the ongoing tensions between the Trumps and the Bidens, underscoring a continued rift in what has historically been a ceremonial gesture of goodwill.
"She ain't going," an anonymous source familiar with Melania's position told the New York Post, pointing to the FBI's search of her personal belongings during the Mar-a-Lago raid. "Jill Biden's husband authorized the FBI snooping through her underwear drawer. The Bidens are disgusting," the source claimed. The raid, which was part of a federal probe into classified documents allegedly retained by Donald Trump, has remained a sore point for the Trump family, despite the case being dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge in July.
Melania Trump's rejection of the invitation contrasts sharply with the traditional protocol observed between outgoing and incoming first ladies. In 2016, Melania herself visited the White House at the invitation of then-first lady Michelle Obama, who offered her a tour of the residence and a conversation about raising children. In contrast, the Trumps did not invite the Bidens for a similar meeting in 2020, breaking decades of precedent.
Dr. Jill Biden extended her invitation last week, offering to host Melania at the White House on November 13, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's meeting with President Joe Biden. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre framed the gesture as part of a "smooth and peaceful" transition of power. However, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and the White House did not immediately respond to inquiries about Melania's decision.
Reports about Melania's refusal vary, with some sources attributing it to a scheduling conflict linked to her book promotion tour. CNN reported that while Trump's team attempted to persuade Melania to reconsider the meeting, her decision had not been finalized. Nonetheless, other insiders maintain that her absence stems from deep-seated bitterness over the FBI's actions.
The Mar-a-Lago raid remains a flashpoint in Trump-world. Melania has previously spoken out against the search, describing it as a "violation of privacy" in a September 2022 interview with "Fox & Friends." "Yeah, it made me angry," she said, recalling her return to a "ransacked" home. "I saw unpleasant stuff that nobody wants to see. And you get angry because, you know, nobody should be putting up with that kind of stuff."
FBI agents reportedly combed through Melania's wardrobe and even searched a room used by her son Barron. The raid was part of a broader effort to retrieve classified documents that Trump allegedly took from the White House, a matter that continues to stir political and legal debates.
The refusal by Melania to meet Jill Biden follows a pattern of strained interactions between the two families. In 2020, Donald Trump, contesting the results of the election, did not extend the customary White House invitation to the Bidens, breaking with the tradition of a peaceful transition. Neither did the Trumps attend Biden's inauguration ceremony.
A source cited by The Daily Mail remarked that "Mrs. Trump is not going," further noting that Melania and Jill Biden "have not spoken." While the exact reasons for the refusal may be multifaceted, the shadow of the Mar-a-Lago raid looms large over any potential reconciliation between the families.
Despite the apparent snub, President-elect Trump will meet with President Biden in the Oval Office, as planned. The move, intended to symbolize a peaceful transfer of power, contrasts with the personal tensions surrounding Melania and Jill Biden's interaction, or lack thereof.
