As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, former First Lady Melania Trump’s potential return to the White House has become a topic of interest. Political pundits suggest that if Donald Trump is re-elected, Melania might not be a full-time resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Instead, she may continue to distance herself from Washington’s political scene, opting to spend most of her time elsewhere.
In an Axios report, veteran observers of Melania Trump, dubbed “Melania-ologists,” cast doubt on her willingness to resume her role in the East Wing full-time. The more likely scenario, they say, would be Mrs. Trump commuting between Palm Beach, Florida and New York City, where her son Barron is attending college in the fall. “She would only be at the White House for ceremonial undertakings like state dinners or special events,” the report notes.
Kate Anderson Brower, author of “First Women,” told Axios, “She’s distancing herself even more from her husband and the Washington social-political scene. I mean, she clearly hated being in Washington.” This sentiment is echoed by Mary Jordan, author of “The Art of Her Deal,” a biography on Melania Trump, who said, “Melania does what Melania wants.”
Historically, Melania Trump could become part of a small group of past presidents’ wives who have not lived at the White House for most of their husband’s term. Anna Harrison, for example, was packing to join President William Henry Harrison in Washington before he died a month into his term. Bess Truman also lived at Blair House while renovations were being done at the White House during President Harry Truman’s administration. However, unlike these situations, Melania Trump’s arrangement would be by choice, highlighting her preference for a life away from Washington.
A 2018 Washington Post report on the Trumps’ life in the White House revealed that the couple had “remarkably separate routines” and slept in their own bedrooms. Despite rumors that Melania lived with her parents and Barron in another Washington home, her staff refuted these claims as “100% false.”
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide to Melania, recently commented that the ex-FLOTUS will never separate from her husband but will likely be more scarce following his legal troubles. “She’s going to keep her head low. She’s going only to do what she wants to do. She and Donald, I do not believe, are ever, ever going to part ways,” Wolkoff said.
If Melania Trump chooses to maintain a limited presence in Washington, her approach to the role of first lady would starkly contrast with her predecessors. Typically, first ladies have embraced the public aspects of the position, engaging in numerous initiatives and serving as a visible support system for the president. Melania has consistently demonstrated a more reserved and private demeanor, focusing on a few initiatives like her “Be Best” campaign to promote childhood well-being and combat cyberbullying.
The possibility of Melania Trump reviving her “Be Best” campaign has also been floated. The initiative received criticism for its limited impact during her first tenure as first lady, but if she were to bring it back, it might come with a larger and more qualified staff to support her efforts.
The future of Melania Trump’s role in a potential second Trump administration remains uncertain. The prospect of commuting between Florida and New York rather than settling into the White House suggests a preference for maintaining her distance from the political spotlight and her husband. Her sporadic presence in Washington, limited to ceremonial events, would significantly depart from the traditional expectations of a first lady’s involvement in the White House.
