Trump arrives in Atlanta for the debate and is not accompanied by Melania as he exits his plane. pic.twitter.com/J8nWindpo0
— Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) June 27, 2024
In September 2023, Donald Trump told the media that it was his idea for Melania Trump to be absent from the majority of his campaign trail to shield her from the potential vitriol she might face. “Honestly, I like to keep her away from it,” he told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker (via The Daily Beast). “It’s so nasty and so mean.” He was confident, though, that Melania would be joining him at some point, saying at the time that fans could expect to see her hit the road with him “pretty soon.”
But surprise, surprise, that didn’t happen, with Melania choosing to funnel her efforts into raising Barron Trump ahead of his college plans instead of supporting her husband. According to journalist Mary Jordan, author of “The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump,” her strategic appearances (and notable absences) are far more deliberate than they appear. “It’s not going to be in volume but you’ll see her at key moments,” she told The Guardian. “She likes to heighten the interest in her appearances by being scarce. It’s very intentional, like a movie star who doesn’t want exposure. She’s hyper-aware of her persona and her celebrity. This is a model who learned to get covers of magazines so she wants to be in control.“
