Trump reveals what he and Melania did on their first night in the White House
WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump has lifted the lid on how he and Melania Trump spent their very first night inside the White House and it wasn’t quite what most would imagine.
Speaking at a fundraiser on Wednesday, October 2, the president shared that the night was filled with awe, not celebration.
Recalling the evening of January 20, 2016, after he won the election, Trump said he and the then-first lady wandered through the residential floor of the historic mansion, soaking in the reality of their new home. “To me, there’s nothing like the White House,” he told guests at the $250 million ballroom fundraiser.
“After I won, the first night, I went up and I’m standing in the residential hallway with Melania and I’m looking into the Lincoln Bedroom. I say, ‘That was a surreal experience. Do you believe this? We’re in the White House and that’s the Lincoln bedroom!’”
Trump calls the White House a 'special place'
The president continued his recollection with a sense of reverence for the historic building. “It takes a while to get [used to it]. I’m still not, probably, used to it. It’s just a special place, what can I say. So we have to take care of it,” Trump added.
Trump and Melania, who married in 2005 and share their son Barron, 19, have long drawn public fascination for their private life. Reports during his first term claimed the couple often led independent lives and maintained separate bedrooms in the White House. Their relationship also made headlines following the Stormy Daniels affair allegations, which the president has consistently denied.
Melania Trump’s quiet re-emergence in public life
After largely staying out of the spotlight during the 2024 campaign trail, Melania has made a measured return to public life since Trump’s re-election. She’s joined him at key events including his second inauguration, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Last month, she delivered remarks at a White House artificial intelligence task force, and recently revealed she has “an open channel of communication” with Russian representatives to assist in repatriating Ukrainian children held in Russia.
A ballroom to mark Trump’s 'legacy project'
Wednesday’s fundraiser was held in honor of Trump’s ambitious $250 million White House ballroom project, which he described as a “tribute” to the donors who helped make it possible. The 90,000-square-foot space, located near the East Wing, is expected to host future state dinners and major events.
“We have a lot of legends in the room tonight,” Trump said. “That’s why we’re here to celebrate you, because you’ve given tremendous amounts of money to see a ballroom built for the first time at the White House.”
The event’s guest list included representatives from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and several of Trump’s longtime allies and donors. The president promised that construction would be completed before the end of his term, ensuring the ballroom becomes one of his lasting White House legacies.
