CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP
Melania Trump: the fascination with her person is still intact, four years later (Photo of Melania Trump in Tokyo)
UNITED STATES – The Melania Trump mystery. Four years after leaving the White House, Donald Trump's wife will make her big return to Washington in January, during her husband's inauguration. But while she hasn't even put on the costume of first lady yet, the ex-Slovenian model is already making headlines. The reason? She refused to honor Jill Biden's invitation to tea during her husband's interview with Joe Biden this Wednesday, November 13, a tradition supposed to show the peaceful transition between the outgoing president and his successor.
According to CNN, which cites sources close to Melania Trump, her absence is due to a “ agenda conflict » linked to the publication of his memoirs. But this choice questions the future involvement of the fifty-year-old in the mission of “ first lady » who is waiting for him. CNN sees this as a desire to redefine the role of first lady and break with tradition. Something she had already started to undertake during her husband's first mandate.
Will Melania Trump get more involved? Will she live in the White House? What does she have in mind? So many questions that the media across the Atlantic have been asking since the appearance of the Trump couple in the country's political life. This fascination of Americans for Barron's mother has not weakened since January 2020 and clashes with her discretion. Melania Trump is a mystery and her rare speeches and appearances – and sometimes even her clothing – give rise to countless speculations.
« Where is Melania Trump? »
Originally from Novo Mesto, Slovenia, Melania Trump has rather stayed away from the cameras, compared to Michelle Obama or Jill Biden. Already, in 2016, she delayed moving into the east wing of the White House, preferring to stay in New York with her son. She ended up joining her husband a few weeks after his inauguration and launched several projects to arrange his new apartments to his liking.
Even in the face of the billionaire's setbacks, his multiple trials, E.'s rape accusations. Jean Carroll and the Stormy Daniels affair, Melania remained entrenched in her usual silence. A line of conduct that she also maintained during the presidential campaign, to the point that several American media asked this summer “ Where is Melania Trump? », as the BBC reminds us.
“She is unique among modern first ladies”Tammy Vigil, associate professor of communications at Boston University and author of Melania and Michelle: First Ladies of a new era (not translated). “She does things the way she wants to do them, not the way she has to do them. But it meets basic expectations. »
The happiness of the First Lady in question
Scrutinized from all sides, Melania Trump was the subject of much speculation during her husband's first term, and the target of as much criticism. In 2018, the fifty-year-old described herself as “most harassed person in the world”.
Even his relationship was called into question. In 2017, during several diplomatic trips, she was filmed refusing to shake hands with her husband. Respect for protocol or quarrel, in the absence of a response, the rumors have spread widely, underlines Tatler. The latter questioning whether Melania Trump was with her husband by choice, or trapped in a loveless marriage, forced into a role. A supportive hashtag #FreeMelania had even been created.
Seven years later, a few hours after Donald Trump's victory, the first lady was again at the heart of questions. At issue: his absence in the family photo shared by Ivanka Trump after the election of the new president. This while Elon Musk appeared there. Enough to put a part back in the machine.
Discreet, but unfailing support from Trump
According to CNN, Melania Trump does not plan to settle full-time in Washington with her president husband. Citing “ sources close to the case “, she is expected to spend most of her time between New York and Palm Beach, Florida. However, she will always be present during major events and will carry out her tasks as first lady.
In 2018, it launched Be Best, its campaign to combat cyber-harassment aimed at children. She also advocated for children affected by the opioid crisis and created a foundation that raises money for the education of children in foster care.
Despite her discretion, her distant appearance and even if the Trump couple does not display their potential happiness in public, Melania Trump remains a strong support for the president-elect. In her memoir, where she strongly supports the theft theory of the 2020 election, she also expresses her admiration for her husband.
Memoirs which, even if they seem to monopolize her time as future first lady, were beneficial to candidate Trump. By openly taking a position for the right to abortion, in opposition to the Republican, she was able to reassure a part of the electorate who was reluctant on this subject a few weeks before the election.
Ultimately, the ex-model's discretion seems more to do with effective media construction… for the benefit of her husband.
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