No gift for Jill Biden? Melania Trump arrives ‘empty-handed’ at White House
Melania Trump on Monday arrived at the White House with husband Donald Trump as outgoing President Joe Biden welcomed them along with his spouse Jill Biden.
Melania Trump on Monday arrived at the White House with husband Donald Trump as outgoing President Joe Biden welcomed them along with his spouse Jill Biden. While greeting his successor and the incoming First Lady, Biden said, “Welcome Home”. The sweet gesture took place ahead of Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the US.
Melania Trump and Donald Trump meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House. (REUTERS)
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Despite Bidens' warm welcome to Trumps, Melania didn't seem to give Jill Biden a gift. Melania and Trump greeted Bidens and even shook hands with the outgoing President on the White House steps.
Melania made waves in 2017 when she met Michelle Obama and her husband Barack in front of the White House and gave her a blue Tiffany & Co. box.
Accepting the gift, Michelle gave a surprising reaction, stating that, “You brought a gift!”
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“I'll take care of the protocol here,” interrupted her husband, Barack, as he swooped in and collected the present.
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“I'll take care of the protocol here,” interrupted her husband, Barack, as he swooped in and collected the present.
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When Michelle appeared on the now-canceled Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2018, she disclosed what was inside the box.
“It was a lovely frame,” said Michelle, People reported. “Well, there's all this protocol. I mean, this is like a state visit, so they tell you that you're going to do this, they're going to stand here.”
“Never before do you get this gift, so I'm sort of like okay,” the former First Lady added.
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Why Melania did not offer the same gift to Jill?
This time, it appears that Melania did not offer Jill the same present or any gift as she arrived at the White House empty-handed.
It's yet to be known if she offered Jill something behind the scenes.
On Trump's arrival, Biden said, “Welcome home”.
Melania and Jill, the incoming and previous first ladies, looked stunning in monochromatic outfits for the inauguration. Melania wore a navy blue coat, while Jill wore a purple tie-waist coat.
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Home/World News/Us News/No gift for Jill Biden? Melania Trump arrives ‘empty-handed’ at White House
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