**Awkward Moments Mark Biden-Trump Transition Meeting, Melania Trump Absent**

In a highly anticipated meeting on Wednesday between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the air was thick with tension. Jimmy Kimmel highlighted the surreal optics, noting how odd it looked to see Trump seated in front of a George Washington portrait. Kimmel remarked that the image underscored the absurdity of the situation.

One of the most notable aspects of the event was the absence of Melania Trump. Kimmel humorously suggested that the former First Lady might have had a different engagement. "Apparently she had crying in the dark scheduled for this morning instead," he joked. The official word from Melania Trump came via a statement released on social media, stating that she would not be attending the day's meeting at the White House.

Her statement read, "Mrs. Trump will not be attending today's meeting at the White House. Her husband's return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success." The missive also addressed the swirl of rumors, implying that some media sources were spreading false information.

Kimmel speculated on the underlying reasons for her absence and theorized that the real reason might be more straightforward. "I think she just said goodbye via press release, right?" he quipped. He added a final jab, suggesting that her decision was financially motivated, noting, "There was no money in it."

The day was marked by both the gravity of the presidential transition and an undercurrent of personal dramas and bittersweet farewells — all under the public eye and late-night commentary.