First Lady Melania Trump has adopted a notably hands-off approach to her White House duties during the opening months of President Donald Trump’s second administration, spending minimal time in Washington while focusing on personal projects and family commitments.

According to recent reports, Mrs. Trump has spent fewer than 14 days at the White House since her husband’s inauguration 108 days ago. Instead, she has primarily divided her time between Trump Tower in New York City and the family’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Sources close to the administration indicate the First Lady has maintained a deliberately low profile, making only a handful of public appearances in recent months. These include attending the annual White House Easter Egg Roll and presenting honors during the State Department’s International Women of Courage awards ceremony. She also presided over a tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush in the East Room on May 8, where the US Postal Service presented a new stamp with Bush’s portrait.

The First Lady’s limited presence in Washington mirrors her approach during her husband’s first term, when she delayed moving to the White House to remain in New York so that their son Barron, who was then ten years old, could finish out the school year. Now, Barron is a freshman at New York University’s Stern School of Business, which may partially explain Mrs. Trump’s continued time in Manhattan.

In a Fox News interview before the inauguration, Mrs. Trump outlined her intentions for balancing her various residences: “I will be in the White House. 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,” she explained. “But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife.”

Despite her physical absence from Washington, Mrs. Trump has been far from idle. She has been actively filming a documentary about her life that she has licensed to Amazon for a reported $40 million. The documentary began production in November 2024 and is directed by Brett Ratner, who is returning to filmmaking after being sidelined following sexual misconduct allegations in 2017.

In a January interview with “Fox & Friends,” Mrs. Trump described the documentary’s scope, saying it covers “day-to-day life, what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have. People, they don’t really know and they will see it.”

The documentary will provide viewers with behind-the-scenes access to Mrs. Trump’s transition back to the White House, including her process of establishing her team, setting up the First Lady’s office, and transforming the residence into her home.

According to industry sources, the deal with Amazon is quite lucrative for the First Lady. The Wall Street Journal has reported that she will receive over 70% of the $40 million licensing fee. The project is slated for both a limited theatrical release and streaming distribution on Amazon Prime Video in the second half of 2025.

The documentary has been described by Amazon as providing an “unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at First Lady Melania Trump.” The streaming giant stated, “We are excited to share this truly unique story with our millions of customers around the world.”

Mrs. Trump’s limited presence at the White House has left a void in some of the traditional first lady duties. Sources indicate that President Trump has personally taken over some responsibilities typically handled by the first lady, including decisions about White House decor. He has reportedly made several changes to the Oval Office, adding more flags, portraits, and gold finishes.

While Melania’s absence from Washington has sparked speculation, those close to her describe her approach as consistent with her independent nature. A source quoted in People magazine stated that she “couldn’t care less how she looks politically” and “doesn’t believe she has obligations in the political world.”

White House officials maintain that Mrs. Trump is fulfilling her role effectively despite her limited physical presence in Washington. Administration representatives have insisted that she is at the White House more frequently than the public realizes and that she enjoys serving as first lady.

This documentary project follows on the heels of Mrs. Trump’s memoir, simply titled “Melania,” which was released in October 2024 and became a bestseller. In interviews promoting the book, she expressed confidence about returning to the White House during Trump’s second term.

The relationship between Amazon and the Trump administration has drawn attention in recent months, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressing optimism about Trump’s second term. Beyond licensing Mrs. Trump’s documentary, Amazon donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and streamed the inauguration ceremony on its Prime Video platform.