George Washington, the first President of the United States, did not live in the White House because it was not completed during his presidency. When he took office in 1789, the White House was still under construction in the newly established capital of Washington, D.C.
Instead, Washington lived in temporary accommodations. He first resided in the Franklin House and later in the President’s House in Philadelphia, which served as the nation’s capital at the time. Washington did lay the foundation for the White House and was actively involved in the design and location choices, but he never had the opportunity to call it home.
Washington’s successor, John Adams, became the first president to occupy the White House in 1800. Therefore, although Washington played a pivotal role in the establishment of the city and the building of the residence, he did not inhabit it himself.