UJ
—
After a month away from Washington, first lady Melania Trump made her return to the White House on Saturday for a dinner and reception with governors from across the country.
“She put a lot of effort into ensuring everything looked stunning. She has a knack for it,” President Donald Trump remarked to the governors gathered in the candlelit East Room, with Melania at a nearby table adorned with lavish arrangements of white hydrangeas and tulips.
While Melania Trump is getting the White House ready for visitors — having announced last week that tours will be resuming — it seems she has shown less inclination to spend extended time there herself.
According to insiders familiar with her schedule, since her husband took office on January 20, she hasn’t spent much time in the White House. Melania was regularly present in the early days of the president’s second term, but after accompanying him on a trip to North Carolina and California on January 24, she hadn’t returned until Saturday.
Reports suggested that she intended to split her time primarily between New York, where their son Barron is studying, and Florida. During the presidential transition, her supporters mentioned that she would still attend key events, such as Saturday’s ball, and have her own initiatives as first lady.
Yet, the past month indicates her presence in Washington may be even less frequent than anticipated, highlighting a notable departure from traditional expectations for a first family.
A spokesperson for the first lady’s office chose not to comment on her recent whereabouts.
Despite her travels along the East Coast, Melania has maintained that she would be in Washington. When asked during a January 13 interview with Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt, she stated, “I will be in the White House, and when necessary, I will be in New York. If I need to be in Palm Beach, then I’ll go there.”
She added, “My top priority is to be a mother, a first lady, and a wife, and once we assume our roles on January 20, I am here to serve the country.”
Similarly, the president has also spent considerable time in Florida since taking office, traveling to Miami or Palm Beach during his first four weekends.
However, Melania has been absent during key presidential visits, including those by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She has missed numerous executive order signings and critical events, such as the return of wrongfully detained American Marc Fogel from Russia and the signing of the Laken Riley Act, which marks her husband’s first legislative success.
Unlike her husband, who has engaged in various public activities, Melania Trump has not yet undertaken any solo official travel, either domestically or internationally. At the same stage during her husband’s first term, she participated in a press conference and an Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu and hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife at Mar-a-Lago for weekend events.
Her preference, as indicated by sources close to her, is to take a less visible role in the everyday matters of her husband’s second term, with no internal discord regarding her decision. Nonetheless, she is often noted as a consistent source of counsel for him.
Signs of a possible shift towards a more public presence for the typically reserved first lady arose during her first week of the new term.
Following the November 2024 election, Amazon secured a significant licensing agreement with Trump to document her life, expected for release this year. She will be the executive producer, ensuring she maintains editorial oversight of the project.
The film’s director, Brett Ratner, traveled on Air Force One on January 24, capturing footage of the Trumps as they met with affected families and assessed Hurricane Helene’s impact in Asheville and the wildfires in Pacific Palisades.
However, as the president proceeded from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for an event regarding his plan to eliminate taxes on tips, Melania Trump and her team separated from the group to return to Florida, as reported by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Her next public appearance wasn’t until Saturday, when she entered the East Room to the sounds of “Hail to the Chief,” smiling alongside her husband, who donned a tuxedo while she complemented him in a matching businesslike tuxedo and crisp white shirt.
When asked by UJ the day following the California visit what he anticipated for his wife’s role in his second term, Donald Trump stated aboard Air Force One, “She has always been involved, but perhaps more behind the scenes – she’s always been a prominent figure.”
He elaborated, “She was deeply affected by North Carolina and California. She has many friends in those areas. That’s why she wished to be alongside me.”
Throughout her time outside Washington, Melania Trump has remained in the public eye.
She unveiled a new official portrait on January 27, taken at the White House on January 21, just after the inauguration. A few of her top aides participated in an uncommon interview discussing the first lady, which was published in “Hello! Magazine” on February 3. The following week, she proclaimed that White House public tours would resume.
Melania Trump has recruited a small group of staff for the East Wing and has begun working closely with them, as confirmed by a White House official. She has also hinted at the possibility of continuing or expanding her first-term initiative, “Be Best,” which focuses on the well-being of children, the effects of the opioid crisis on families, and encouraging positive online behavior.
Regine Mahaux, a beloved photographer of the Trump family who captured both Melania’s 2017 and 2025 official portraits, remarked to Hello! that Melania Trump is becoming “more free.”
“She’s always been hands-on, but she seems more liberated now in making overt statements,” Mahaux noted. “She has evolved into a different individual than she was eight years ago and remains authentic to herself. This time, it feels like an invigorating atmosphere with a fresh group surrounding the President.”
