Most presidents get to move into the White House once. President-elect Donald Trump is doing it twice, and his wife, Melania, says it's a lot easier the second time around. “I know where I will be going. I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process,” the incoming first lady said recently. She described their first move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in 2017 as “challenging.”.
Regardless of who is president, the whole process also challenges the White House residence staff: The maids, butlers and others who look after the president's private living space have about five hours — from start to finish — on Inauguration Day to move out one first family and settle in the next one.
“Everything needs to be planned to the minute,” Melania Trump said on Fox News' “Fox & Friends.”. The clock starts ticking when the outgoing and incoming presidents leave the White House together for a shared limousine ride to the Capitol for the swearing-in.
“As soon as they leave, the executive residence staff swings into action,” Matthew Costello, chief education officer of the White House Historical Association, said during a recent online program about Inauguration Day history. “Essentially, staff is working nonstop to inventory, process and move all of the personal items of one first family out and a new first family in.”.
