In her memoir, A View from the East Wing, former First Lady Jill Biden shares details of a frosty encounter with Melania Trump during the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2025. Biden highlights her outfit choice, which included blue and purple to symbolize unity, as an effort to ease tensions. However, the meeting was awkward, with both couples exchanging only polite words before heading inside for tea. Biden noted that Melania seemed to blame Joe Biden for the FBI's search of her Mar-a-Lago residence, contributing to the chilly atmosphere. During the car ride to the Capitol, Melania repeatedly tried to change the subject to the weather, while Biden attempted to engage her in conversation about military dogs braving the cold. After the inauguration, Biden expressed her sorrow over the demolition of the East Wing, describing it as a loss of historical significance. She lamented the destruction of the space that held so much institutional memory, comparing it to a rare animal being hunted down. A View from the East Wing is now available from Gallery Books.