Melania Trump was notably absent from the funeral of late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, July 28th, with many people questioning why the First Lady wasn’t by President Donald Trump’s side.
Her latest no-show comes amid ongoing reports that she and her husband largely lead separate lives, with Melania continuing to spend much of her time away from the White House during his second term. It also adds to a growing list of high-profile events she has skipped, including the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday, July 24th, while coinciding with reports that security concerns surrounding the First Lady have intensified. Keep reading for more information…
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Melania Trump Skips Lindsey Graham's Funeral
The late Republican senator for South Carolina passed away on July 11th at his Washington residence following a "brief and sudden illness," according to a statement from his office. It read: "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period."
President Donald Trump, son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent were all in attendance at the funeral service held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. But the First Lady was nowhere to be found.
For what it's worth, her recent public appearances include attending the FIFA Club World Cup final with her husband and their son Barron Trump on July 19th, as well as the President's July 4th "Salute to America 250" celebration on the National Mall.
Although she didn’t attend the funeral, Melania did issue a statement praising the longtime senator's public service after his death was announced. "I am saddened by the unexpected passing of Senator Graham," she said. "Lindsey devoted his life to the service of our nation, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to his duties. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and all those whose lives were touched by his enduring legacy."
Reports Of Separate Lives
Melania's absence didn't come as a surprise to many political watchers. The First Lady has maintained a low public profile throughout her husband's second term, frequently staying at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where her son Barron attends New York University, or at the family's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, rather than spending extended periods at the White House.
She also skipped the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, while speculation surrounding the couple's marriage intensified after she didn't publicly acknowledge President Trump's 80th birthday last month.
"We haven't seen such a low-profile first lady since Bess Truman," Katherine Jellison, a historian of first ladies, told The New York Times. A source also told People that the couple were "living separate lives" before Trump's second presidency and suggested that "being under the microscope of the nation" was unlikely to change that.
Reported Iran Threats Add To Security Concerns
Melania's absence also comes as security concerns surrounding the First Lady have intensified in recent weeks. According to the Express, Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is reportedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, circulated an AI-generated video allegedly identifying locations Melania frequently visits and discussing potential assassination plots against her.
The publication reported that the footage claimed to use information gathered from "anonymous security networks and satellite images."
The Express also reported that threatening billboards have appeared across Tehran targeting President Donald Trump and members of his family, including Melania, Ivanka Trump, and Barron Trump. There is no indication the reported threats were connected to Graham's funeral or played any role in Melania's decision not to attend.
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Social Media Reactions To Melania Trump's Absence
Many people took to social media to question Melania's absence, with some slamming her for not supporting her husband and others speculating that the reported death threats may have been the reason she didn't attend.
"Why wasn't Melania there? What a disgrace. Thank God Eric and Lara Trump were there to support him," commented one user. A second slammed: "She's a failure as a wife to our President. Abandoning him today at the memorial for his friend."
"Couldn't even take the day off from online shopping & sashaying poolside to support her 'hoosband' who is mourning the loss of one of his only friends. Wow!" exclaimed a third, as a fourth referenced her absence at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and wrote: "Melania, you should be at the funeral. What's wrong? Not at dinner and now this? A fifth pointed out her apparent priorities, and said: "Melania Trump didn't attend @LindseyGrahamSC funeral with her husband but was perched up at the FIFA World Cup finals?"
Others referenced the reported death threats. "I guess she didn't want Barron to become an orphan since leftists and Iran keep trying to kill her and POTUS," wrote a sixth on a Newsweek X post.
"If the left would stop trying to assassinate Trump, then she would be there," quipped a seventh. "Michelle skipped Jimmy Carters. And she didn't have a death toll on her head by Iran like Melania and her son has," added an eighth, in reference to Michelle Obama.
