On President-elect Donald Trump’s first day in office, the occasion was marked by a surreal moment as outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump at the White House. The scene unfolded with Biden and Jill standing on the steps of the North Portico entrance, a red carpet adorned with gold streaks beneath their feet. The Trumps arrived in a black SUV, with Melania dressed in a stylish blue full-brim hat and overcoat, extending a gloved hand to bid the Bidens farewell. In a lighthearted exchange, Biden greeted them with, “Welcome home” as the Trumps ascended the steps.
Trump, who traditionally sports a red tie, chose instead to wear a dark red or purple tie, which may have been a subtle nod to the bipartisanship he hoped to project on his first day in office. The two couples posed together, smiling for the cameras, although their friendly exchanges could not be overheard, leaving their conversation shrouded in mystery. After this formal gesture, the Bidens and Trumps entered the White House together.
Before this, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrived at the White House, where they were met by Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Vance, in contrast to Trump, wore a red tie, while Usha made a striking appearance in a British-style pink peacoat, becoming the first Indian-American second lady. The four of them entered the White House, followed closely by aides and Secret Service members.
However, behind the public facade, tensions were evident within the White House in the days leading up to Trump’s second inauguration. Harris had confided in close friends that she was saddened by President Biden’s recent comments, which suggested he might have won the election if he had not been sidelined, though he clarified that it wasn’t meant to criticize Harris. Meanwhile, Biden’s team harbored bitterness toward the Democratic Party and leaders who had been long-time allies. In an unreported development, Jill Biden was said to have urged her husband to “burn it all down” as they departed, though it remained unclear whether this referred to issuing a presidential pardon for Trump—a possibility that was never seriously pursued.
