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Donald Trump may be having a hard time accepting he’s lost the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, but a member of a former first family has reflected on a peaceful transition 12 years ago.
Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former president George W Bush, shared warm memories of her family showing Malia and Sasha Obama around the White House after their dad, Barack, won the election in 2008.
The throwback snaps show Jenna, her twin sister, Barbara, and mother, Laura, showing the Obama girls how to slide down a staircase rail and where the best hiding spots are in the White House.
“Twelve years ago (!!!) today – I drove from my job teaching in Baltimore to meet my mom and sister in DC to show the next residents of this house their new home," Jenna wrote on Instagram.
“We showed them our rooms that would soon be theirs. Twelve years! PS I love my 'teacher outfit' it makes me nostalgic for that time."
During an episode of The Dr Oz Show last month, Jenna (38) said passing on the first-daughter baton was a moment she and Barbara loved.
“We just had such a beautiful day because, really, we have so much more in common than what divides us. Especially the kids," says Jenna, who is now a co-host on the news programme Today.
Although they were already in college when their father was sworn in as president, Jenna and Barbara practically grew up in the White House as they spent plenty of time there during their grandfather George HW Bush’s presidential term.
"We saw ourselves in those precious little girls because when our grandfather became president, we were their age,” Jenna says of Malia and Sasha.
“So we knew what was magical about the White House."
Jenna’s throwback pictures have since gone viral. The pictures are in stark contrast to the current administration as Trump refuses to accept the election results or commit to leaving the White House.
Conceding is useful for two main reasons, NBC News says. Not only does it allow for a peaceful transition of power, it indicates that the losing candidate won’t encourage their followers to resort to violence to protest the loss.
It also forms a large part of the American election tradition.
After a phone call to Trump to concede defeat in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton acknowledged that the country’s “constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power and we don't just respect that, we cherish it”.
Since the late 19th century, losing candidates have sent concession telegrams, made phone calls or delivered speeches.
Sources: People.com, Theguardian.com, Oprahmag.com, Hellomagazine.com, Nbcnews.com
