section_path: Pre-inaugural events/Church service and White House reception
section_name: Church service and White House reception
paragraph_text: Church service and White House reception
  
  On the morning of the inauguration, on January 20, after staying the night at the Blair House, the traditional house used by the incoming president-elect due to its proximity to the White House, Trump and his wife, Melania, and JD Vance and his wife, Usha, attended a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church. The tradition dates back to James Madison, with every president since then attending the church service the morning of their inauguration. The service was led by Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist minister who campaigned for Trump during the election.
  
  After the church service, Trump and his wife went to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The Bidens greeted the Trumps, and they then posed for photos in front of the White House press corps. Afterward, they held a tea reception inside the White House, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, and JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance. As per tradition, following the meeting between the president and the president-elect, they shared the presidential motorcade limousine, and made their way to the Capitol for the inaugural ceremony.
  
  On the morning of the inauguration, on January 20, after staying the night at the Blair House, the traditional house used by the incoming president-elect due to its proximity to the White House, Trump and his wife, Melania, and JD Vance and his wife, Usha, attended a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church. The tradition dates back to James Madison, with every president since then attending the church service the morning of their inauguration. The service was led by Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist minister who campaigned for Trump during the election.
  
  After the church service, Trump and his wife went to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The Bidens greeted the Trumps, and they then posed for photos in front of the White House press corps. Afterward, they held a tea reception inside the White House, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, and JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance. As per tradition, following the meeting between the president and the president-elect, they shared the presidential motorcade limousine, and made their way to the Capitol for the inaugural ceremony.