When Donald and Melania Trump enter the White House next year on Inauguration Day, they’ll find it looks just like it did when they left it four years ago – even down to the Diet Coke button on the desk in the Oval Office.
That’s all thanks to the staff of the White House residence. The nearly 100 employees, who are nonpolitical and stay on from president to president, spend the morning of January 20th moving the departing commander-in-chief out and the incoming one in.
They have about five hours to get it all done. It’s a well-coordinated process that comes after months of planning. After all, the staff have known since President Joe Biden exited the presidential race in July that a new family was moving in – one way or another.
By the time the Trumps enter 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they’ll find their clothes in their closet, their preferred shampoo in the bathroom, and their favorite foods in the kitchen.
Family photos will be displayed. Furniture will be rearranged to their liking.
For the White House staff, it will be an easy transition. They know Donald and Melania Trump thanks to his first term in office.
‘There aren’t any mysteries about what [the Trumps] would they like to have for breakfast, how they operate, what kind of shampoo they use. I mean, they know everything already.’
As White House staff prepare to move the Trumps in, they’re packing up President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden As White House staff prepare to move the Trumps in, they’re packing up President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden And while they know Donald Trump, they would have been ready if Kamala Harris had won the election.
‘They would have had done their research on Kamala Harris and her family and their kind of lifestyle,’ Brower said.
‘They would have already known kind of what to expect, especially since she was VP, there would be some understanding there. And they probably talked to staff at the Naval Observatory. There’s some relationship there between the White House residence staff and the Naval Observatory staff.’
The staff generally get along with whoever occupies the Oval Office. Their jobs are permanent and outside of the political process.
Many of them have worked at the White House for years and have served several presidents. Their loyalty is to the families that have lived there.
They include butlers, maids, housekeepers, chefs, cooks, doormen, florists, curators, electricians, plumbers, storekeepers, and engineers among others.
They like Trump and will welcome him back with open arms.
‘He would, like, tip them cash. I was told he would hand out $50 bills,’ Brower said.
