Melania Trump Chooses Not to Present Jill Biden With a Gift During Inauguration Day Meeting at the White House Hours Before Joe Biden’s Inauguration

On the morning of Inauguration Day, there was a noticeable absence of gift-giving when Melania Trump greeted Jill Biden and President Joe Biden.

Unlike the tradition from four years prior, Melania, alongside her husband Donald Trump, met the Bidens on the steps of the White House just hours before Joe was set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

Melania’s Gesture Back in 2017

This was a sharp contrast to the 2017 inauguration when Melania made headlines by gifting Michelle Obama a Tiffany & Co. blue box as they met at the White House.

Michelle’s reaction was one of surprise—she awkwardly accepted the gift, saying, “You brought a gift!” while trying to figure out where to place it.

Barack Obama, ever the gentleman, swiftly took the box and handled the protocol, humorously telling everyone, “I’ll take care of the protocol here.”

Later, Michelle shared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that the gift was a lovely picture frame.

A Quiet Morning This Time Around

This time, however, Melania didn’t appear to present Jill Biden with a gift, nor did she seem to have anything in hand during their greeting.

While there was no public exchange of gifts, it remains uncertain if Melania may have shared something privately behind the scenes.

Fashion and First Impressions

Both Melania and Jill made a style statement that morning.

Melania wore a navy blue coat by American designer Adam Lippes, paired with navy suede Manolo Blahnik heels and black leather gloves.

The standout accessory of her ensemble was a large, navy wide-brimmed hat with white trimming, designed by Eric Javits, another American designer.

Melania completed her look with a chic bun and diamond stud earrings.

Jill, in a tie-waist purple coat, also drew attention with her elegant, monochromatic look.

Behind the Scenes and Inaugural Moments

Following the greeting, the couples enjoyed coffee and tea in the White House residence before heading to the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony.

Joe Biden, as he prepared to leave the White House for the final time as president, expressed his optimism, stating that it was “a beautiful day,” and his message for the day was one of “joy” and “hope.”

Biden also confirmed he had written a letter for Trump, which would await him when he entered the Oval Office.

When asked about the contents of the letter, Biden simply replied, “That’s between Trump and me.”