Former first lady Jill Biden has shared details of an uncomfortable exchange with Melania Trump during a motorcade ride to the U.S. Capitol on the day of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. In her new memoir, Jill Biden writes that Melania Trump personally blamed Joe Biden for the FBI search of her private spaces at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, a concern Donald Trump had previously raised at a rally.
Jill Biden expressed empathy, noting, "I have compassion for her, having been subject to the same kind of search. I knew how distressing it was to have agents rummage through your underwear drawer."
The memoir also highlights the role of attorney John Bessler, husband of Senator Amy Klobuchar and a member of the inauguration committee, who was tasked with escorting the two women to the Capitol. Jill Biden described this as "arguably one of the trickiest assignments" and joked that Bessler "must have drawn the shortest of all possible straws." She added, "I don't know how long this has been tradition, but it certainly helps with the awkwardness."
A Tense Exchange About Barron Trump
During the ride, Jill Biden attempted to ask about Melania Trump's son, Barron Trump, and his studies. Melania Trump responded tersely, "NYU," while looking out the window. According to Jill Biden, "Melania kept trying to switch the topic to the weather."
The former first lady also reflected on a phone call she made to Melania Trump after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. Jill Biden described Melania as "polite and controlled as ever" during the call.
Other Revelations in the Memoir
In the book and during her press tour, Jill Biden has also discussed her husband's poor performance in the 2024 debate and addressed his prostate cancer diagnosis. She told MS NOW's "Morning Joe" that she is unsure if he would have had to resign as a result of the diagnosis.
