Melania Trump, Enigmatic First Lady, Set for a New Chapter
The morning after her husband’s triumphant election night, Melania Trump reached out to the nation with a heartfelt message.
“The majority of Americans have given us a great responsibility,” she expressed.
“We will protect the core of the republic—freedom,” she promised, urging everyone to move beyond their differences for the country’s sake.
Her message was concise but indicated a fresh approach to her role as First Lady in this new term.
During Trump’s initial victory in 2016, Melania stayed in New York with their young son, appearing hesitant about the conventional duties of a first lady.
This time around, experts believe she might take a more thoughtful approach to her somewhat undefined role.
Born Melanija Knavs, the 54-year-old former model from Slovenia left behind a luxurious lifestyle in Manhattan’s Trump Tower for a politically charged life at the White House, during one of the most tumultuous presidential terms in history.
Melania, shrouded in mystery compared to previous first ladies, kept a lower profile in public and on campaign trails.
“What sets her apart is her independent streak,” noted Tammy Vigil, a communications professor at Boston University and author of studies on Melania and Michelle Obama.
“She acts on her own terms, aligning with the expectations minimally but effectively.”
Melania kept a low profile during Trump’s legal battles while campaigning for a second term, sparking media queries about her whereabouts.
She did make appearances on significant occasions, such as the announcement of Trump’s new campaign bid in late 2022.
Wearing a striking red Christian Dior suit at the Republican National Convention in July, she chose not to speak, breaking from tradition.
When she does speak, Melania’s words are often cautiously selected, reflecting her viewpoint.
At a rally in Madison Square Garden before the elections, her brief yet emphatic remarks echoed Trump’s themes of law and order, highlighting New York City’s struggles with crime.
After the first assassination attempt on Trump, she called for unity and decried the attacker as a “monster.”
In a rare Fox interview, she pointed fingers at Trump’s political foes and the media for fostering hostility that led to the attack.
In her latest memoir, Melania confirmed her pro-choice beliefs, potentially conflicting with her husband’s political base but possibly offering support to her spouse amid challenges to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Her book delves into her modeling days, her relationship with Trump, and past political disagreements, while choosing to keep specifics under wraps.
Publicly, she backed Trump even on unpopular fronts, including his assertions about the 2020 election being rigged.
“I wasn’t the only one questioning the results,” she penned in her memoir, noting her obliviousness to the January 6 Capitol riots due to her preoccupation with official duties.
Her former spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, unveiled in her book that Melania wouldn’t publicly denounce the violence, prompting Grisham’s resignation.
Amidst speculation about her liking for the first lady role, some observers questioned her enthusiasm.
Kate Bennett, her biographer and ex-CNN journalist, claimed Melania enjoyed her position despite initial reservations.
“She enjoyed the perks of being the first lady and living in the White House,” Bennett told People magazine in 2021.
Melania shared in her memoir her sense of duty to leverage her platform for good.
In a 1999 exchange, she expressed plans to emulate former first ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Betty Ford, labeling them as “very traditional.”
Mrs. Kennedy was admired for her fashion sense and preservation efforts at the White House, while Mrs. Ford was groundbreaking in her advocacy for abortion and women’s rights.
After relocating to Washington, Melania engaged in first lady duties like hosting state luncheons and dinners for visiting dignitaries.
She eyed White House enhancements, managing extensive renovations and bold Christmas decorations (notably captured on a surreptitious recording expressing dissatisfaction with the latter).
Her fashion choices, such as the jacket reading “I really don’t care, do you?” during a 2018 visit to a migrant child detention center, sparked media controversy.
She explained it as a message to “critics and the left-wing media.”
Another recording caught Melania venting about criticisms surrounding her husband’s children-separation policy at the border.
She clarified her opposition to the policy to Trump, which was later reversed amidst public outcry in 2018.
Prof Vigil highlights that Melania’s hurdles included her lack of political know-how and an often unsteady support team.
Yet, according to Vigil, she pursued her initiatives like the Be Best campaign, focused on children’s welfare and online bullying.
Pressed to justify the campaign in light of her husband’s social media habits, she told CBS that his approach online was problematic yet boosted his following.
Melania also addressed the opioid crisis’s impact on children and launched a fund to support education for foster children.
Many anticipate that she will resume this work upon her return to Washington, though her residency remains uncertain.
Prof Vigil suggests that as the first lady’s role evolves, Melania will make deliberate choices on her public presence.
“She will act more intentionally from now on.”