Melania Trump’s behavior deviates from how other politicians have relied on their spouses. Sometimes male politicians turn to their wives to try to reach out to female voters. Candidates also may be joined by their spouses as a way of giving voters more of a sense of what the candidate is like outside the political arena.
During this year’s GOP primary, for example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, traveled with him, granted interviews and formed a coalition named Mamas for DeSantis before he suspended his bid for the nomination. Vivek Ramaswamy’s wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, also was on the campaign trail, often appearing along with their two young children to talk about the importance of family.
The Associated Press reached out to 15 people who have been in major fundraisers or in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate recently. None said they had encountered Melania Trump on the Florida property.
Her office has not responded to several requests for comment. Her only public statement of late came two days after the Florida Republican Party announced with fanfare that son Barron Trump, 18, was chosen as a state delegate for the Republican National Convention and her office said he could not make it, citing prior commitments.
Reporters at the New York courthouse during Trump’s felony trial repeatedly asked him, “Where’s Melania?” but he never answered. Trump allies cited their son’s school calendar as the main reason for her absence without denying it was a delicate time for the family.
Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, was asked whether there were talks about her accompanying him to court.
“That wasn’t a discussion that I wanted to have,” Blanche responded, speaking to Miami trial attorney David Oscar Markus for his “For The Defense” podcast. “This was a tough case because of the nature of the charges, the evidence that came in, the history, how long it had been.”
Some of the testimony aired how Trump allegedly had sex with porn actor Stormy Daniels in July 2006, about four months after Melania Trump had given birth to Barron; Trump has denied Daniels’ claim. Trump’s former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen testified that Trump did not appear to care about how the story of an encounter he was looking to bury would hurt his marriage as much as he cared about it damaging his 2016 presidential aspirations.
But Hope Hicks, Trump’s 2016 campaign communications chief, testified that Trump was concerned in 2016 about how a story related to Playboy model Karen MacDougal would be viewed by his wife and wanted her to make sure newspapers were not delivered to their residence.
Melania Trump did not post anything on her social media accounts after her husband was convicted on 34 felony counts. That’s in contrast to Trump’s elder sons, who quickly condemned the verdict. Daughter Ivanka Trump posted on Instagram a photo of her as a toddler with a younger Trump and the message “I love you dad.” Tiffany Trump, his younger daughter, accompanied him to the courthouse last month for the trial’s closing arguments.
“I think it’s very hard for her,” Trump said about his wife, in an interview with Fox News after the verdict. “I mean, she’s fine. But, you know, she has to read all this crap.”
Despite her absence on the campaign trail, Trump often mentions her and shares conversations between the two, showing supporters that she is still involved behind the scenes by offering feedback to the former president.
Larry Snowden, president of the “Club 47” fan group, said he last saw the former first lady at a February gala hosted by the “Trumpettes,” a group of female supporters. He said he has never had a one-on-one interaction with her, but that when he saw her there, she was “so charming.”
“She was so happy, and she was smiling and accommodating anyone that wanted to come up and shake her hand or anything,” Snowden said.
Snowden said he does expect Melania Trump to show face throughout the campaign and to make key speeches, but that he also thinks that the former president would “continue to be very protective of her.”
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Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
Associated Press
12 comments
Tom
June 23, 2024 at 10:47 am
Staying out of sight while renegotiating the prenup again no doubt. She’s definitely the smarter of the two.
Nice Ones
June 23, 2024 at 12:56 pm
She’s a tiddie model; let’s not get carried away…
PeterH
June 23, 2024 at 10:53 am
Most members of the Trump Crime Family will sit on the sidelines watching the family godfather destroy the great American economy, democracy and culture! This time around the king of BS will have absolutely no guardrails. 99% of the Dons “never Trumpers” in the House and Senate have retired or quit.
Republicans are America’s worst enemy!
Vote all Republicans out of office!
Michael K
June 23, 2024 at 11:33 am
I imagine she is completely disgusted and humiliated by the constant reminders of her husband’s infidelities, lies, and corruption.
Nudie Models
June 23, 2024 at 12:55 pm
She’s a nudie model; please.
Michael K
June 23, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Yes, that’s how she got her “genius” visa card and subsequent chain migration.
Unsafe Florida
June 23, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Updated: 11:40 AM EDT June 23, 2024
TAMPA, Fla. — Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio has been shot and killed at a hotel in Tampa, according to his attorney.
Jacksonville-based attorney Lewis Fusco confirmed Sunday that his client Charles Andrew Jones II, 26, had been killed early Sunday morning.
The Tampa Police Department said it received a 911 call regarding a shooting at 11606 McKinley Drive at approximately 4:40 a.m.
My Take
June 23, 2024 at 3:55 pm
Grab as much of the money as you can. Melania, and run.
Send a card once a month to Trumpie to say you keep in touch.
Link up with a poolboy.
Say you want to see what it’s like with a real man.
My Take
June 23, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Ex-nudie models are OK by me.
One just destroyed Trump’s professional reputation and possibly his future.
tom palmer
June 23, 2024 at 6:22 pm
I don’t blame her..
UglyNewYorkers
June 24, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Melania is an awful example of a human being, just like the rest of that d-list, morally bankrupt family.
Joe
June 26, 2024 at 11:03 am
With Barron now into adulthood, the clock is winding down on the latest Trump marriage… ZERO chance they’re still together 4 years from now.
Comments are closed.