Melania Trump was notably absent from the guest list for last Friday’s rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The annual event was rescheduled after an armed suspected stormed the original dinner in April. While Donald Trump returned for last Friday’s event, the first lady’s latest no-show adds to a growing list of White House events she has skipped during his second term. It also comes amid ongoing reports that Melania and Donald Trump largely lead completely separate lives in the first place. Keep reading for more information.
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
Melania Trump Missing From White House Correspondent's Dinner
This time around, the event was held at the Waldorf Astoria in a smaller space, slashing the guest list from its original 2,600 down to around 680 people. Though Melania Trump was in attendance for the original dinner, she, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, did not attend Friday's event.Â
While the vice president has the understandable excuse of his wife, Usha, having just given birth to their fourth child last weekend, the White House did not given any reason as to Melania's absence, despite confirming she wouldn't be there. However, most aren't surprised that she wasn't there, as she doesn't seem to make White House engagements her top priority.
Melania Trump & Donald Trump 'Live Separate Lives'
Unfortunately, Melania's absence didn't come as a surprise, as she doesn't spend much time at the White House. Rather, she spends most of her time in Trump tower in Manhattan, where her son, Barron, attends New York University, and in Florida, at their private Mar-a-Lago club.
"We haven't seen such a low-profile first lady since Bess Truman," Katherine Jellison, a historian of first ladies, told NYT.
Prior to the inauguration, Melania was asked by Fox News where she'd be spending most of her time once her husband took office. "I will be in the White House," she claimed. "And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach. But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on Jan. 20, you serve the country."
Many sources predicted this would be the case even before Trump was elected. Melania rarely appeared on his campaign trail, making a small handful of public appearances. A source speaking to People said her absence "should not come as a surprise to anyone because this is how she lives."
"They were living separate lives before his second presidency," a different source explained. "It's unlikely being under the microscope of the nation is going to change anything."
