By Katherine Tinsley
8:19am PST, Jan 17, 2025
Jill Biden attended one of her final events as first lady on Thursday, January 16. The professor honored Joining Forces at the White House and used her platform to amplify soldiers and their loved ones.
Biden chose to wear a custom red Schiaparelli suit while meeting with veterans and their families.
Throughout her time in the White House, Jill and her husband, President Joe Biden, have prioritized honoring military members, as their late son Beau served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard.
Joining Forces was founded by Michelle Obama and Jill in 2011 to assist military spouses with finding employment and providing educational resources to their kids.
"We have an all-volunteer force — and it continues only because generations of Americans see the honor, dignity, and patriotism of military service," Jill said in 2021. "How can we hope to keep our military strong if we don't give our families, survivors, and caregivers what they need to thrive? That's what Joining Forces is about."
As Jill prepares for
Donald Trump to take over the White House on January 20, the educator is offering a lending hand to his wife,
Melania Trump, to make the transition easier.
"I congratulated her and I offered help," Jill said in an interview with
The Washington Post. "What would be the point of nastiness?"
Melania previously complained that
Barack Obama and Michelle didn't assist her and Donald in their transition. However, Melania declined when Jill invited the former model over for tea.
"The difference is I know where I will be going, I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process," Melania told
Fox News. "The first time was challenging, we didn't have much of the information."
"The information was upheld [sic] for us from [the] previous administration," she added.
Melania is prepared to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after her husband is sworn in.
"I already packed. I already selected the, you know, the furniture that needs to go in," she told Fox News. "So it's, it's very different, a transition, this time, second time around."
