This year kicked off and ended with people questioning where Melania Trump, 53, is as her husband – former President Donald Trump, 77 – campaigns for another term.
A Tuesday Instagram story from Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée, media personality Kimberly Guilfoyle, caused the most recent speculation. She included a family photo in front of a Christmas tree at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that didn’t include the former first lady.
Trump stands at the center of the photo, flanked by his daughter Ivanka (from marriage with Ivana Trump, along with Donald and Eric) and Ivanka’s daughter, Arabella. Ivanka’s sons, Joseph and Theodore, stand in front of the former president.
Trump’s 17-year-old son with Melania, Barron, stands behind him. Next to Barron are Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner and Tiffany, Trump’s daughter with Marla Maples. On his other side are Guilfoyle, Tiffany’s husband, Michael Boulos and Donald Trump, Jr. Eric Trump was not in the picture either. He shared his own holiday Instagram post this week.
According to Page Six, which published a screenshot of the photo, said a spokesperson for Melania revealed she was not at Mar-a-Lago when the photo was snapped because she was “tending to a family matter.”
Fox News Digital reported that Melania was visiting her “ailing mother,” citing a source close to the former model.
Audacy previously reported on sources who said Melania was pulling back from the spotlight, and even renegotiated her pre-nuptial agreement, as her husband hits the campaign trail and as he faces mounting legal troubles. However, she seems to have become more active in recent months as Trump’s strong lead against the other GOP candidates has remained solid and as he’s inched ahead of President Joe Biden in national polls.
For example, Audacy reported earlier this month that Melania has allegedly made it clear who she wants Trump to pick as his running mate (find out who it is here). Page Six also exclusively reported this week that Melania plans to step up her public appearances in support of her husband’s bid to be re-elected.
She recently attended former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral and delivered a speech about immigration at the National Archives.
“Trump and his family are so secure that he will become president again that insiders at Mar-a-Lago say he’s reached an agreement with [wife] Melania [Trump] to step up top-tier diplomatic appearances in 2024,” a source told Page Six.
As for Trump, his mind was apparently on the border this week, per Truth Social posts.
“OUR BORDER IS OUT OF CONTROL LIKE NO BORDER IN HISTORY, FROM ANY COUNTRY, HAS EVER BEEN. WE ARE BEING EXTORTED BY MÉXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES, WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND,” he said. “WE TRULY ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION, WITH LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT RESPECTED AND DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE.”