Nearly four months into Donald Trump’s second term, First Lady Melania Trump has been largely absent from the White House.
Reports suggest she’s spent fewer than 14 days there, and the East Wing remains unusually quiet.
Her rare public appearances and minimal time in Washington have sparked widespread speculation. “They clearly do not in any way inhabit a marriage as we define marriage,” said journalist Michael Wolff, who believes the Trumps are living separately.
Melania had initially shown public enthusiasm, saying in a January interview, “I already packed; I already selected the furniture that needs to go in.” However, since Inauguration Day, her presence has dwindled. She’s been spotted mostly in New York or at Mar-a-Lago, far from the political spotlight.
Even at those locations, she keeps a low profile. Insiders note she’s rarely seen at Mar-a-Lago, and White House officials have been vague about when she’s actually in D.C. Historian Katherine Jellison compared Melania to Bess Truman, a First Lady known for her preference for privacy.
“She just kind of liked her own private world,” said Jellison — a sentiment that seems to fit Melania’s current choices.