Melania sets out new approach to potential return as first lady (2024)

As Donald Trump took to the stage in Milwaukee on Monday evening just 48 hours after an attempt on his life, the words “fight, fight, fight” echoed around the arena.

Joining in the chanting were his family – sons Don Jr and Eric, youngest daughter Tiffany and Eric’s wife Lara — showing their support for the patriarch of their family, who took a bullet to the ear just days earlier.

But notably absent from the chanting and cheering was Melania Trump – former first lady and Trump’s third wife, who is believed to be at home at the couple’s Trump Tower penthouse in New York City, hundreds of miles away from her husband in Milwaukee.

Mrs Trump is expected to attend the event, and previously delivered remarks at the 2016 and 2020 Republican conventions.

But this year she is not on the list of announced headliners and keynote speakers, in a break from a decades-long tradition for the spouses of nominees, prompting speculation of an internal rift between Mr and Mrs Trump.

It follows a string of stark absences this year.

Mrs Trump did not attend her 78-year-old husband’s first presidential debate against Joe Biden last month, nor did she attend any of the court proceedings in the Republican candidate’s hush money trial in New York, in which he was found guilty on 34 charges.

“Melania is a very private and reserved person generally and since the 2020 election has been quite distanced from public events, including the Manhattan trial and campaign events. I think the voting public understand this,” Todd Landman, an American professor of political science at Nottingham University, told i.

Melania sets out new approach to potential return as first lady (1)

Those court appearances had earlier detailed her husband’s alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels in 2006 – which is said to have taken place just months after she gave birth to her son with Mr Trump, Barron.

On Sunday, a day after the attempted assassination, Mrs Trump released a lengthy statement, saying: “I realised my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change.”

She wrote of her spouse’s “laughter, ingenuity, love of music and inspiration,” before adding that the married couple had been through the “worst of times”.

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Mrs Trump’s letter mirrored the uncharacteristically softened language used after the shooting by Mr Trump, who said on Sunday that it was important to “stand united” and a “chance to bring the country together”.

She claimed the “fabric of our gentle nation is tattered” by the shooting and called for “courage and common sense” to “bring us back together as one”.

Her actions are thought to provide clues as to how she will treat the role of first lady if she regains the position for a second time.

During Mr Trump’s first term as president, she faced relentless speculation over the state of her marriage, questions over her hospitality, and embarrassing plagiarism claims over her rather puzzling “Be Best” children’s safety campaign, which she later distanced herself from. That followed accusations she had partially plagiarised her 2016 RNC speech from Michelle Obama.

Now, Mrs Trump is setting her own rules. She is not expected to move to the White House full time in the event her husband wins the election.

The New York Post last month reported that the 54-year-old had “made a deal with her husband that if he wins the presidency she will not have to be on first lady duty 24/7”, according to a Trumpworld insider.

Barron, 18, is said to be hoping to attend New York University in the autumn. Mrs Trump, as “a hands-on mother”, plans to spend part of every month and “potentially every week” in New York, the insider told the Post.

Mrs Trump is protective over her only son. After discussion of him serving as a delegate to nominate his father as the official Republican presidential candidate this week, her office released a statement announcing that this would not happen.

But Barron did attend a Miami Trump rally, where he was greeted by cheers as he sat in the front row at the campaign – while his mother was nowhere to be seen.

Mary Jordan, a Washington Post associate editor and author of the unauthorised 2020 biography The Art of Her Deal, has said said: “Melania does what Melania wants”, which makes her “stand out in history from any other first lady”, because she sees the role as “unelected, not paid”.

If Mr Trump is elected president, she will ensure she has a larger, “better” and “more qualified” staff, Ms Jordan told Axios last month. “Now having seen how this works, she would just be wiser and she would be more vocal and more demanding about what the first lady’s office should get.”

Kate Andersen Brower, who has written several books about the White House and first ladies, says Mrs Trump’s absence is more about her hatred of Washington and the “social political scene”. The former model is believed to prefer the hustle and bustle of New York City and – where she has lived since 1996 – and “feels safe” there. She even met her husband at New York fashion week.

Duties of a first lady have historically included public advocacy for issues, hosting and diplomacy. “She had a different approach to being first lady during his first administration, which may provide some idea of how she might perform her role in a second Trump administration,” says Professor Landman.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former long-time adviser to Mrs Trump and author of memoir Melania and Me, told the Daily Beast in May: “She’s a ruthless survivor and opportunist — willing to do whatever it takes to resort to any means necessary for self-preservation.”

Ms Wolkoff said Mrs Trump “knew exactly who she married, she knew this was a transactional marriage”.

Asked by reporters about his missing wife, Mr Trump has acknowledged her private nature. He told Meet The Press last year: “At the appropriate time, she’ll be out there.”

Melania sets out new approach to potential return as first lady (2024)

FAQs

How much is Melania Trump's net worth? ›

Melania Trump - $50 million

Celebrity Net Worth reports her current net worth at $50 million. According to Newsweek, she reportedly renegotiated her marriage contract in 2023 to protect herself financially in light of Trump's multiple indictments.

What has Melanie Trump done? ›

Through her BE BEST initiative, she has become an ambassador of kindness, an advocate for issues impacting the lives of children, and has given a voice to our Nation's most vulnerable children and families. Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970 in Slovenia.

Where was Barron Trump for RNC? ›

The Trump campaign announced in May that Barron would be a Florida delegate at the RNC convention, alongside siblings Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany. But Melania Trump quickly issued a statement saying their youngest son was unavailable.

Who is Donald Trump's wife? ›

Breaking Down the Trump Family Tree

Trump's wife Melania and his daughter Ivanka were present at the convention, though they did not speak. With the Trumps firmly in the limelight, here is a breakdown of the business mogul and former President's family tree.

How much are Joe and Jill Biden worth? ›

According to the Biden's 2023 tax return, Joe Biden made $400,000 for being president and Jill Biden made $86,000 as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College. Most of the Bidens' net worth, an estimated $7 million of their $10 million, comes from their two Delaware homes.

What is Melania Trump's business? ›

She started her own jewelry brand, Melania, in 2009.

What has Melanie Sykes been diagnosed with? ›

Melanie Sykes 'self-identifies' as having Tourette's two years after finding out she is autistic. Melanie Sykes says she has realised she is "wired a completely different way". Melanie Sykes says she believes she has Tourette's syndrome.

What is Tiffany Trump doing now? ›

She has been in a relationship with Boulos since 2018. They were married on November 12, 2022, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is a frequent poster on Instagram, where she had 1.4 million followers as of January 2021.

Does Melania Trump have any sisters? ›

Why was Barron Trump missing from the convention? ›

Although Barron Trump was invited with his brothers to attend the Republican National Convention as a Florida delegate, in May, his mother delivered a statement that he would not be able to attend due to prior commitments.

Did Melania go to the RNC convention? ›

Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump were at the Republican National Convention Thursday, making a rare appearance in support of former President Donald Trump's third bid for president.

How tall is Donald Trump? ›

Donald Trump's height has consistently been reported as 6'3" during his public appearances and medical assessments. This height has been a part of his public image, contributing to his imposing presence.

Is Trump's wife Hispanic? ›

Melanija Knavs Trump (born April 26, 1970) is a Slovenian-American socialite, model and businesswoman. She was also the first lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump.

What nationality is Donald Trump? ›

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump was also the chairman of The Trump Organization from 1971 to 2017. New York City, New York, U.S.

Who is Tiffany's husband? ›

How much money does Donald Trump Jr. have? ›

The eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, had an estimated net worth of 200 million in 2021. He is also in charge of the family business […]

How much is Trump worth now? ›

Was Melanie Trump rich before Trump? ›

Before becoming the former First Lady, Melania was a model married to a billionaire, seemingly leading a charmed life raising their son Barron, managing a jewelry line, and enjoying a life of luxury.

Who is the richest president we have had? ›

List of presidents by peak net worth
NameNet worth (millions of 2022 US$)Political party
Donald Trump6100Republican
George Washington707None/Independent
Thomas Jefferson284Democratic-Republican
Theodore Roosevelt168Republican
41 more rows

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