The secret First Lady custom dating back decades
As the US gets ready to welcome in a new president and first lady, the White House kitchen would usually also be busy preparing a spread for a little-known tradition.
Behind the closed doors of the White House and away from the cameras, it has been custom for outgoing first ladies to host tea for the incoming one and provide a tour of the property, facilitating their own transfer of power as their husbands dealt with that of the presidency.
Melania Trump is reportedly snubbing this tradition as she prepares to take the helm of First Lady once again in 2025, with Jill Biden reportedly inviting her to the White House last week, as Joe Biden invited her husband and president-elect Donald Trump in a symbolic gesture to show a peaceful transition of power.
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While the presidents have a transition of power, so do the first ladies, Getty
But this is not the first time Melania and Donald have rebuked the tradition. When Joe Biden won the 2020 election, he and Jill eagerly awaited their invitation to the ceremonial visit.
But they were left hanging, with Donald and Melania flying back to their home state of Florida on January 20, on the day Joe was sworn in.
Though the current president and first lady did not comment on the snub, their daughter Ashley did mention on the Today show, "No, I don't think they're doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate," shrugging at the snub, "But I think we're all OK with it."
The First Lady tea tradition itself dates back at least 72 years, with Kate Andersen Brower, author of First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies claiming, "In modern history, there has always been an invitation, this goes back to at least Bess Truman and Mamie Eisenhower."
Though they may have held the first tea in between First Ladies, the tradition of hosting tea has been a strong political tool for over a century.
One of the most infamous First Lady tea parties was held by Lou Hoover made waves in 1929 when she invited Jessie De Priest, wife of a Black congressman Oscar De Priest, to the traditional White House tea party hosted by new administrations for congressional wives.
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First Lady Laura Bush takes Michelle Obama for a private tour of the artwork in the East wing (Green room) of the White House. Getty
Oscar De Priest was the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century, as well as the first elected outside the Southern United States, a region that advocated for the disenfranchisement of African Americans, especially from political life.
The Hoovers may not have seen an issue with inviting Jessie, but many politicians in the South were strongly opposed to it, even launching vitriolic attacks in public statements.
Margie Neal, Texas' only female state legislator at the time, said in hers, "Mrs. Hoover has violated the most sacred social custom of the White House, and this should be condemned."
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The last First Lady tea party was held in 2016, when Michelle Obama handed over the role to Melania Trump. Getty
Despite the controversy, the White House never commented on it, and Jessie De Priest continued to be a guest at the famed tea parties.
Melania is at the centre of the custom's demise, with the last First Lady tea party being held in 2016, when Michelle Obama welcomed her into her new home.
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