Melania Trump has not given Jill Biden the traditional tour of the White House’s second and third floor living quarters.
The tradition of showing the FLOTUS around her new residence dates back to 1953 when Bess Truman showed Mamie Eisenhower the private White House quarters. It is a transitional act that has been repeated ever since. Even Michelle Obama gave Melania a tour after Donald Trump questioned her husband's citizenship.
The move comes after Melania has reportedly not contacted Jill Biden once, since the election. Though the exciting inauguration day is upon us, we are still seeing push back from the soon to be former, President Trump.
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I see Melania talked about peace and unity in her speech and yet she refused to give Dr Biden a welcoming tour of the White House. Nice.January 18, 2021
Never before have frosty presidential relationships got in the way of traditions. Despite a difficult campaign between George W Bush and Barack Obama, Laura Bush still gave Michelle Obama the tour. She even invited their children Sasha and Malia on the tour to view their new bedrooms.
Some have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment at Melania Trump and anger at the rocky transition, one Twitter user wrote, 'I see Melania talked about peace and unity in her speech, and yet she refused to give Dr. Biden a welcoming tour of the White House. Nice.'
The tradition itself is one of passing the torch, respectfully, despite what may have happened on the campaign trail. It’s a small tradition but an important one, Kate Anderson Brown from CNN writes, 'Ceremony matters. Traditions matter. Our expectations about what's normal and civil behavior in our society matters.'
Brown describes how the occasion 'grounds us' and shows that two people can come together and acknowledge how 'the transfer of presidential power also touches the lives of real families not so unlike ours'.
In further breaking of tradition Joe and Jill Biden will not be greeted at the Whitehouse by the Trumps, but by a former Trump hotel worker, Mr Harleth.
The Independent reports that, “Mr Trump’s refusal to be part of the welcome for Mr Biden has not been viewed favourably in some corners of the Capitol.”
Trump has also announced he will not be attending Joe Biden’s inauguration.
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