WASHINGTON • While their husbands met in the Oval Office to prepare passing the presidential torch, First Lady Michelle Obama and her soon-to-be successor, Mrs Melania Trump, also met separately to have tea and a tour of the White House residence.

Reporters were not invited to observe the first meeting between the two women, who share their own awkward history: Mrs Trump was accused of cribbing lines for her convention speech from the First Lady, while Mrs Obama was one of Mr Trump's fiercest critics on the campaign trail.

White House aides said Mrs Obama gave Mrs Trump a tour of the State Floor and Truman Balcony, and they discussed raising children in the White House.

Mrs Obama has raised two daughters in the White House and the Trumps have a son, 10-year-old Barron.

"Michelle has had a chance to greet the incoming First Lady," President Barack Obama told reporters later in the Oval Office, with Mr Donald Trump sitting at his side. "And we had an excellent conversation with her as well."

Mr Trump later tweeted: "A fantastic day in D.C. Met with President Obama for first time. Really good meeting, great chemistry. Melania liked Mrs. O a lot!"

BLOOMBERG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS