On Monday, July 15, the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) kicked off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, without the presence of former First Lady Melania Trump. Her husband, former President Donald Trump, entered to enthusiastic applause and was joined by his family, including sons Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and daughter-in-law Lara Trump. However, Melania Trump was conspicuously absent, as was his daughter Ivanka Trump.

This lack of participation from the former first lady is a notable break from convention tradition. In previous years, the spouses of Republican presidential nominees have been expected to deliver speeches at the convention – a tradition that Melania Trump herself fulfilled in 2016 and 2020. Her decision not to speak this year has sparked speculation regarding her involvement and visibility in her husband’s campaign.

A report from The Washington Post suggests that Melania Trump’s absence from the convention’s opening night is consistent with her recent distancing from political events. Since departing from the White House, she has notably avoided many of her husband’s court appearances, fundraising endeavors, and campaign rallies.

Despite her absence on the opening night, The Associated Press confirmed that Melania Trump attended the convention on Thursday night, arriving after 10 pm. However, she was not named among the event’s keynote speakers.

Melania Trump’s public presence has been relatively minimal in the current year. She did not join the former president at his Super Tuesday victory celebration or his 78th birthday party. She was also missing from his New York trial over hush money payments, which involved multiple legal challenges.

Though it is unusual for Melania Trump to skip the convention’s opening night and not deliver a speech, it is not wholly unexpected. The ex-first lady has traditionally maintained a more subdued role compared to other political spouses. Her absence from the list of speakers diverges from the precedent set by past presidential spouses.

This tendency to maintain a low profile also applies to other family members. For instance, Ivanka Trump, a significant figure in her father’s past campaigns, has also withdrawn from political activities. She has announced her intent to support her father in a non-political capacity and is not scheduled to speak at the convention.

Despite her restrained public appearances, Melania Trump has not entirely vanished from public view. She issued a rare and extensive statement following an assassination attempt on her husband at a Pennsylvania rally. In it, she expressed sympathy for the victims and gratitude towards those who helped bridge the political divide during the incident.

After mostly staying out of the spotlight, the former president’s wife and oldest daughter joined Trump on Thursday night, the final night of the convention, when he accepted the Republican nomination, although his youngest son, Barron, was absent.