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

During the 2025 Inauguration Jan. 20, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Donald Trump and Melania Trump to the White House. 

By Kisha Forde, Olivia Evans Jan 20, 2025 4:11 PM
| Updated Jan 21, 2025 12:32 PM
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Watch: 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. 

As a refresher, Melania and Michelle had a notable interaction when the former presented Michelle with a Tiffany & Co. 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?'”

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President Donald Trump's Family

She continued, “And everyone cleared out, no one would come and take the box. And I’m thinking, ‘Do we take the picture with [it]?’"

However, her husband and former president Obama soon stepped in to save the day.

“He grabbed the box and took it back inside," Michelle recalled. "But everybody cleared out."

And while former president Obama will be in attendance alongside former presidents Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton as well as George W. Bush andLaura Bush, as well as tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, Michelle previously confirmed to E! News she would not be in attendance for the 2025 Inauguration Day festivities. 

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Keep reading to see every update from the 2025 Inauguration Day…

Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump

Take them to church: Barron Trump joined mom Melania Trump (in a coat by American designer Adam Lippes) and his father, president Donald Trump for services at Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Church as part of the 2025 Inauguration Day festivities Jan. 20.

Ivanka Trump

Incoming first daughter Ivanka Trump also put on her Monday best for the church services. 

Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump

"Welcome home," President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House. 

Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also on hand to welcome VP JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the White House.  

Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump

Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John's Church services. 

Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner

Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore

Elon Musk

Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump

Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. "While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like," she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, "I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony."

Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush

Among the former presidents and first ladies on hand: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and Laura Bush

George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama

With wife Michelle Obama not attending, former president Barack Obama hung with the Bushes. 

Mike Pence

Trump's former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony. 

Eric Adams

New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol. 

Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky

Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration. 

Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova

Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance. 

Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk

Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.  

Robert F. Kennedy

Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in. 

Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao

Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.

Jake Paul & Logan Paul

Influencer turned boxer Jake Paul was on hand with his brother, wrestler Logan Paul

Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk 

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined Amazon exec Jeff Bezos, his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Pichai and Musk on the dias at the Capitol. 

Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. 

Trump's kids with first wife Ivana Trump—Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump—gathered with Ivanka's husband Kushner. 

Barron Trump

Trump's youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time. 

Christopher Macchio

Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. "I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall," he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. "Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor."

Shou Zi Chew

Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration. 

Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem

Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem

Melania Trump & Donald Trump

He attempted to sneak a kiss under his wife's Eric Javits hat

JD Vance, Usha Vance & Donald Trump

Just before noon, Vance took the oath of office to become vice president while wife Usha and daughter Mirabel looked on. 

Rudy Giuliani

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani captured the festivities. 

Donald Trump

Minutes after Vance was sworn in, Trump took his oath of office for the second time. 

Bernie Sanders

What, no mittens? Vermont senator Bernie Sanders ditched the outerwear for the festitivites inside the Capitol. 

Carrie Underwood

After technical difficulties forced her to perform a capella, American Idol's season four winner Carrie Underwood blew the crowd away with her rendition of "America the Beautiful". 

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