Ashley Biden says Melania Trump has not reached out to Jill Biden

by Morgan Chalfant - 01/19/21 12:27 PM ET

President-elect Joe Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden, said Tuesday that first lady Melania Trump has not reached out to her mother, incoming first lady Jill Biden, about arranging the traditional procedures for the transition of power.

“I don’t think they’re doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate, but I think we are all OK with it,” Ashley Biden said in an interview with Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, on NBC’s “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.” -Ashley Biden says Melania Trump is joining with President Trump in breaking with traditional protocol when it comes to the presidential transition pic.twitter.com/hS4drJ7QaB

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 19, 2021

Melania Trump’s decision not to facilitate a “tea and tour” at the White House represents a break with tradition.

Typically, the outgoing first lady invites the incoming first lady for tea at the White House and a tour to become acclimated with the White House residence as part of the transfer of power.

Melania Trump was invited by then-first lady Michelle Obama to have tea and tour the White House in 2017 as the Trump administration took hold.

The current first lady, who released a farewell video message reflecting her work the past four years on Monday, is expected to depart Washington, D.C., with President Trump on Wednesday morning for Palm Beach, Fla. Trump also has not spoken or met with Biden and is not expected to meet with the incoming president Wednesday, bucking tradition.

While Trump has acknowledged the start of a new administration Wednesday, he has not explicitly stated that Biden won the election after disputing the election results for two months.

Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president Wednesday amid tension in Washington following the Jan. 6 mob attack at the U.S. Capitol. The inaugural ceremonies will also have a different feel due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the traditional events either taking place with smaller crowds or virtually.