In a significant break from tradition, Melania Trump will not attend the usual First Lady transitional meeting at the White House with Jill Biden.
Breitbart reported that this meeting was to coincide with President-elect Donald Trump's discussion with President Joe Biden concerning the upcoming transition of power. Melania's absence marks a deviation from the customary practices observed during presidential transitions.
Melania Trump has recently been busy promoting her new memoir, "Melania," which has quickly climbed the bestseller lists.
According to CNN, her commitments to the book's promotion are the primary reasons for her not attending the meeting with Jill Biden. The memoir's success has kept her schedule tightly packed, conflicting with the timing of the White House visit.
Another layer to Melania's decision stems from unresolved issues from the past. An anonymous source conveyed to the New York Post her continued distress over an FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022.
During this operation, which was part of an investigation into a classified documents case that was later dropped, FBI agents reportedly intruded into her personal space, searching through her wardrobe and clothes.
Melania's distress following the raid is profound, as she feels her privacy was severely violated by actions authorized under the Biden administration.
This incident has added to her reluctance to meet with Jill Biden, whom she has never spoken to before, as reported by the Daily Mail. An anonymous source emphasized Melania's feelings of betrayal and invasion during this troubling period.
While Donald Trump will attend the meeting with Joe Biden, Melania's absence speaks volumes about the current political tensions and personal grievances affecting such engagements.
Trump's team reportedly urged Melania to reconsider her decision, emphasizing the importance of tradition and continuity, but these efforts did not change her mind.
Melania herself has publicly criticized how she believes the media has been manipulated by political interests. In a striking comment, she referred to the media as a "political propaganda tool of swamp politicians," highlighting her distrust and disappointment with the political engagements during her husband's administration.
The situation is complicated further by conflicting reports about Melania's final decision.
While some sources claim her decision to skip the meeting is final, CNN reports that it had not been finalized. This discrepancy adds to the uncertainty and speculation surrounding her attendance and the reasons behind it.
Melania Trump's decision to skip the traditional first lady meeting with Jill Biden highlights several key issues.
First, her busy schedule promoting her new best-selling memoir has made it difficult to find time for the meeting. Second, lingering upset over the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, particularly the invasion of her personal space, has left a lasting impact on her.
Donald Trump's team encouraged her to attend, but grievances and political rifts have proved too significant. Melania and Jill Biden have never spoken, showcasing the personal and political distances between the current and former first ladies.
This decision underlines the complex interplay of personal grievances, political tensions, and public duties that define the transitional period in American politics.