What President Joe Biden Said to Donald Trump During Milestone Inauguration Reunion

Donald Trump and Melania Trump got a warm welcome from President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. 

On the 2025 Inauguration Day Jan. 20, the incoming first couple was greeted by the Bidens on the front steps of the White House. As the Trumps got out of their car, President Biden greeted them, according to Washington Post reporter Matt Viser, with, “Welcome home!”

The friendly exchange between the Bidens and the Trumps comes eight years after Melania and her husband had a bit of an awkward exchange with former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during the 2017 Inauguration. 

Melania and Michelle had a less-than-seamless interaction when the former presented Michelle with the blue box during their meeting. As Michelle would later explain of the gift—which she revealed was a “lovely frame”—it wasn’t what she expecting.

“Well, there’s all this protocol,” Michelle told Ellen DeGeneres during an August 2018 appearance on the host’s eponymous talk show. “I mean, this is like a state visit, so they tell you, ‘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, ‘OK. What am I supposed to do with this gift?’”