"Welcome home": Biden greets Trump on his return to White House

Monday, 20 January 2025

US President-elect Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the White House on the morning of 20 January for the traditional pre-inauguration tea with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Biden greeted the Trumps with the words "Welcome home".

A video shows the four conversing briefly before entering the White House for tea.

Biden later shared a photo of the gathering on X (Twitter), stating that serving the American people had been "the honour of his life".

The outgoing US president traditionally accompanies the president-elect to the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony. Prior to this, both presidents and their spouses attend a tea party at the White House, a custom started in 1837 by Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson. However, Trump broke this tradition in 2021 when Joe Biden won the presidency.

Donald Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office on Monday, 20 January, becoming the 47th President of the United States.

According to media reports, Trump’s inaugural address will call for a "common sense revolution".

Ahead of the inauguration, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised the importance of transatlantic relations and European independence.

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