Donald Trump - Lost Lady: Melania Trump is missing from her husband's TV debate - and elsewhere too
Former First Lady Melania Trump was missing from her husband's first TV debate during the ongoing Presidential campaign. The 54-year-old did not accompany former President Donald Trump to the debate against President Joe Biden on Thursday evening, unlike his wife Jill. The current First Lady appeared on the television stage in Atlanta alongside her husband after the debate. Trump left the television stage immediately after the debate's end – alone.
Melania Trump has scarcely made public appearances since her departure from the White House in early 2021, keeping a low profile and also playing a minor role in her husband's campaign so far. In contrast, Biden's wife Jill has been very present in her husband's campaign. Trump wrote on the platform X on Thursday, "The best thing about the campaign is having you by my side, Jilly."
The public appearances of Melania Trump with her husband Donald Trump in the past few months can be counted on one hand.
Donald Trump seems to be fighting alone
She was just as absent from her husband's fundraising events or at his Mar-a-Lago estate. She did not even comment on the social media about her husband's hush money trial in New York. She also did not attend a birthday party organized by a Trump fan club for her husband's birthday in mid-June.
AP spoke to fifteen people who had attended large events with campaign donors or at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in the past months. None of them had seen Melania Trump there. Her office did not respond to several inquiries from AP.
Melania's behavior was also unusual compared to other First Ladies, according to history professor Katherine Jellison of Ohio University. But the Trumps cannot be measured against previous political standards.
Even her absence from the New York trial was not surprising to many. It also involved her husband's sexual encounter with porn star Stormy Daniels, approximately four months after the birth of their son Barron in 2006.
"Where is Melania Trump?"
"Where is Melania?", the reporters called out to Trump during the trial repeatedly – without receiving an answer. At one point, he wished her a happy birthday from the court.
"I think it's very hard for her," Trump told Fox News after the verdict. "I mean, she's doing well. But she has to read all this crap, you know."
Trump often mentions his wife at campaign rallies, talks about conversations with her, and seems to want to show his supporters that she is actively supporting him behind the scenes. And the importance of wives for US Presidential candidates has been shown in past elections. They often help win over female voters and make the candidates more relatable.
Despite Melania Trump's absence during her husband's Presidential election campaign, Donald Trump frequently mentions her support at rallies. Contrastingly, Joe Biden's wife Jill has played a significant role in his campaign. Melania Trump's absence was noticeable even during her husband's hush money trial, where she did not make an appearance or make any comments on social media.
