Jill Biden's book details awkward inauguration ride with Melania Trump

In her memoir View from the East Wing, Jill Biden recalls an uncomfortable car ride with Melania Trump from the White House to the Capitol for Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration. She notes it is customary for the outgoing and incoming presidents to travel together while their spouses ride in a separate vehicle, and that inauguration committee member John Bessler 'must have drawn the shortest of all possible straws' to be assigned to accompany their car.

The memoir was released on June 2. The two first ladies had only a handful of interactions over the years. After the 2020 election, Donald Trump refused to concede and did not invite Joe Biden for the traditional postelection meeting, and Melania Trump did not invite Jill Biden for the customary tea.

When Donald Trump won a second, non-consecutive term in 2024, the Bidens revived the White House invitation; Donald Trump accepted, but Melania declined, citing a prior commitment.

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