Melania Trump Criticizes Obamas During ‘Difficult’ Transition as Michelle Opts Out of Inauguration
By Jake Beardslee ·
January 16, 2025
Melania Trump has taken aim at the Obamas, claiming her transition into the White House in 2017 was hindered by a lack of support from the outgoing administration. Her remarks come as Michelle Obama announced she will not attend Donald Trump’s second inauguration. DAMON HIGGINS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In an interview with Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt, Melania contrasted her first transition to the White House with her current preparations for the upcoming move. "The difference is I know where I will be going, I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process," she explained. "The first time was challenging; we didn’t have much of the information. The information was upheld [sic] for us from [the] previous administration." Fox News / YouTube
Melania emphasized the contrast, stating, "This time I have everything I need. I’m already packed and ready to go. It’s [a] very different transition second time around." Fox News / YouTube
When asked about the Bidens’ cooperation during this transition, Melania sidestepped the question, remarking only that "they’re still living there and will be out on January 20. The transition team has only five hours to move Bidens out to move us in." The White House / Wikimedia
Michelle Obama’s absence from Trump’s upcoming inauguration aligns with her pointed criticism of Trump’s presidency. A source reportedly told PEOPLE that Michelle does not wish to "plaster on a smile for someone she fundamentally believes is a threat to American democracy." The source added, "Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition." Chuck Kennedy / Wikimedia
The strained relationship between the Obamas and Trumps has been visible in public moments, such as Trump’s first inauguration. During the event, Melania surprised Michelle with a gift, resulting in an awkward exchange as Michelle searched for a place to set it down. Reflecting on that day, Michelle later shared on "The Light Podcast" in 2023 that witnessing Trump’s swearing-in was difficult: "To sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display, there was no diversity, there was no color on that stage. There was no reflection of the broader sense of America." Air Force Staff Sgt. Sean Martin / Wikimedia
Donald Trump, meanwhile, has broken with tradition by refusing to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, becoming the first president to do so since 1869. Sgt. Charlotte Carulli / Wikimedia
