Melania Trump snubs Jill Biden meeting at the White House and breaks time-honoured tradition

Melania Trump has officially snubbed a customary meeting with at the - and blamed it on a "scheduling conflict."

The has turned down the traditional meeting, which usually marks the beginning of a peaceful transition between the outgoing and incoming families. The meeting, which was scheduled for Wednesday at 11am, will not take place.

A representative from Jill Biden's office said the Biden's had offered their congraulations to the Trump, along with the traditional invitation for the White House visit, but Melania has turned down the offer.

“Mrs. Trump will not be attending today’s meeting at the White House. Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” her office said in a post to X.

The snub is reportedly due to a scheduling conflict related to the release of Melania's newly released memoir. had invited the president-elect to the Oval Office to show there will be a peaceful transition of power - something that refused Biden in 2020 as he contested the electoin's result.

The president-elect’s plane landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday morning and Trump arrived near the Capitol for a meeting with House Republicans as they prepare for a potentially unified Republican government and sweep of power. Back in Washington for the first time since his election victory, Trump told lawmakers, “It’s nice to win”.

The private meeting, ahead of Trump’s sit down with Joe Biden at the White House as a traditional part of the peaceful handoff of power, puts in stark relief the former president’s comeback to Washington. Trump is arriving amid Republican congressional leadership elections potentially putting his imprint on the outcome.

It comes as billionaire Elon Musk will join Trump in Washington, according to a Trump aide. The SpaceX owner, who Trump just named to a government efficiency advisory role in the new administration, is not currently expected to be at Trump’s meeting with Biden at the White House.

Musk will join Trump’s earlier meeting with House Republicans before he and Biden meet in the Oval Office. He’s been a steady presence at Trump’s side since the election. Trump also planned to meet with Republicans from Congress as they focus on his Day 1 priorities and prepare for a potentially unified government with a GOP sweep of power in the nation’s capital.