Ashley Biden Reacts To Melania Trump Breaking White House Tour Tradition: 'We're All OK'
KEY POINTS
- Ashley said it is "unfortunate" that Melania had not initiated the "tea and tour" tradition
- The younger Biden also said she was "deeply saddened" by the Capitol riot
- The PIC has announced a lineup of TV programming leading up to Joe Biden's inauguration
President-elect Joe Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden, on Tuesday reacted to Melania Trump breaking the tradition of offering Jill Biden the “tea and tour” of the White House.
During an interview with Jenna Bush Hager of NBC, which was Ashley's first network television interview, the 39-year-old only child of Joe and Jill Biden said it is “unfortunate” that Melania had not initiated the traditional Inauguration Day handoff protocol. The “tea and tour” is a longstanding tradition in which the outgoing first lady helps acquaint her successor with the private living quarters located on the second and third floors of the White House.
“No, I don't think they're doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate, but I think we're all OK with it,” Ashley said
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Biden said that she will not be taking a position in her father’s administration. However, she will be focusing on using her platform to raise awareness of social justice, mental health and community development.
She also spoke of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, revealing that she has been “deeply saddened” by the incident at that ,“sacred place.”
“This was a place I grew up going as a child, as you did too, and a place where Dad has worked for over 30 years. A sacred place, really," she said.
Ashley also spoke of her late-brother Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, and said she knows her brother “will be there with us” when their father is sworn in on Wednesday.
"He was 46 when he passed. Dad will be the 46th president," she said.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) recently announced a lineup of television programming leading up to the inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, including a curated live stream for American youth titled: “Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans.”
The live stream will be hosted by actress Keke Palmer and will take place before the inauguration event that begins at 10 a.m. EST. The live stream also is scheduled to feature a message from incoming first lady Jill Biden.
All Inauguration Day programs will be available on various PIC social media channels found on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.
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