Donald and Melania Trump led the United States of America from the presidential election in 2016 until they were replaced by Joe and Jill Biden in 2020. They were not like any other POTUS or FLOTUS.
Discover our latest podcast
Indeed, the couple broke several long-standing traditions during their time at the White House, and no doubt they will surprise Americans again once they move back this month.
Donald Trump skipped key traditions for Joe Biden's inauguration
Back in 2020, when Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States, Donald Trump decided he would not leave without a fight. Up until the day before Joe Biden's inauguration, the former president claimed the election had been rigged, and stolen from him. This led his followers to storm the Capitol on 6 January 2021, which resulted in the death of five people, according to the New York Times.
Traditionally, sitting presidents organise symbolic events to welcome their successor ahead of their inauguration. These events usually include inviting the president-elect at the White House, as well as simply attending the inauguration. Donald Trump did not invite Joe Biden before his inauguration, nor did he acknowledge his opponent's victory.
However, there is one tradition Donald Trump surprisingly kept. Indeed, he left a letter to his successor. While that letter is usually one of support and congratulations, despite their political differences, many wondered what he could have written in his letter to Joe Biden. The president-elect assured Americans that the note had been very cordial. Joe Biden told reporters from the Oval Office:
The president wrote a very generous letter. Because it was private, I won't talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous.
Melania Trump and Jill Biden's tea
In an effort to make a peaceful tradition between the sitting First Lady and her successor, the two women usually have tea together, and enjoy a tour of the White House before the inauguration. The tradition was famously snubbed by Melania Trump, who refused to invite Dr. Jill Biden to the White House. She was the first president's spouse to break that tradition in over a hundred years. This decision was deliberate, but it appears Dr. Jill Biden did not take offence. Indeed, her daughter Ashley told the Today show:
No, I don't think they're doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate. But I think we're all OK with it.
The tea ordeal sadly did not stop there. In 2024, when Donald Trump was elected, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden decided to reinstate the tradition of inviting her successor over for tea and a tour of the White House. However, according to the Washington Post, Melania Trump refused the invitation, claiming she had prior engagements.
The First Lady reportedly did not hear back from Melania Trump until the two women crossed paths at President Carter's funeral, when she reportedly thanked her.
The Trumps were the first to snub a president's inauguration in 152 years
Probably the biggest tradition between presidents and First Ladies is the ride to the Capitol on inauguration day. When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Barack Obama welcomed him on the steps of the North Portico, and they rode together towards the Capitol and the inauguration, as is the long-standing tradition. However, when Joe Biden was inaugurated, one couple was famously missing from the event: the Trumps.
The couple left for their Mar-a-Lago home in Florida just before the inauguration, becoming the firsts to snub a president's inauguration in over 152 years. Instead of attending the ceremony, he gave a speech to his followers at Joint Base Andrews, which featured a 21-gun salute and a military band playing Hail to the Chief.
Other traditions Donald and Melania Trump broke
Donald Trump broke Ramadan tradition set by Hillary Clinton
In 2017, Donald Trump broke with another tradition, although this one had nothing to do with Joe and Jill Biden. He ended a tradition that had been started by then First Lady Hillary Clinton, twenty years before his time. In 1996, Bill Clinton's spouse hosted an iftar dinner, marking the end of the Ramadan fast. Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama all followed that tradition of hosting a dinner at the end of the holy month, to honour Muslim Americans. However, Donald Trump decided against it, and the White House simply issued a statement for Eid al-Fitr. A former deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security under Bush, James Norton, told The Guardian:
From President Bush’s perspective, it was important post-9/11 for the administration and to show the White House and the US is inclusive of all people and religions, especially after such a traumatic event. We were not at war with Islam itself but with terrorist organisations.
President Bush went out of his way to wrap his arms around the Muslim community. I don’t know why the current administration made this decision.
Melania Trump did not accompany her husband to the State of the Union address
In 2018, Melania Trump broke another tradition as she was seen arriving alone at her husband's State of the Union address. Presidents are traditionally accompanied by their spouse on this very special occasion, but her entourage claims she was simply welcoming special guests of honour. This ordeal highlighted a possible rift between Melania Trump and her husband, as it happened when the Stormy Daniels hush money controversy was taking place in the background.
Read more:
Donald Trump given an unconditional discharge in hush-money trial, what does this mean?
Donald Trump reacts to viral moment where he and Barack Obama are laughing together
Donald Trump: New book drops controversial claims about the President-elect
Sources used:
The Hill: Jill Biden says Melania Trump declined tea invite
BBC: Melania Trump defies tradition to arrive alone at speech
Business Insider: 10 times Melania Trump broke White House traditions and defied expectations of the first lady role
The Guardian: Donald Trump abandons traditional White House Ramadan celebration
USA Today: Here are the customary things Trump did not do leading up to Biden's inauguration
