JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="message">
    <span>Menu 1</span><span>Menu 2</span>
</div>

CSS

.message span {
 border: 1px solid red;   
    display: inline-block;
}

JavaScript

$('.message').contents().each(function() {
    if (this.nodeType === 3 && !$.trim(this.nodeValue)) {
        $(this).remove();
    }
});

$('.message').append('<span>Menu 3</span>');


console.log($('.message').html());