Insiders reveal how many days first lady Melania Trump has spent in White House since inauguration
WASHINGTON, DC: Melania Trump might hold the title of First Lady again, but don’t expect to see her strutting down the White House halls.
Multiple insiders told The New York Times that the ultra-private former model has spent fewer than 14 days at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since her husband took office — and some say that’s a "generous" count.
“We haven’t seen such a low-profile first lady since Bess Truman,” said Katherine Jellison, a historian at Ohio University who specializes in first ladies. That’s a flashback to nearly 80 years ago, when Truman famously avoided the limelight and ran off to Independence, Missouri, "whenever she had the chance.”
“She just kind of liked her own private world,” Jellison added, just like Melania.
Despite having staff in the East Wing, she barely sets foot in the office. Even the regulars at Mar-a-Lago revealed that they hardly catch a glimpse of her.
Melania Trump's great disappearing act
Since her husband President Donald Trump was sworn in again about 108 days ago, Melania Trump has shown up at just a handful of public events. She made a rare appearance at the White House Easter Egg Roll and showed face at the International Women of Courage Awards in April.
She did accompany the former president to Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, but that didn’t make her any more visible.
This week, she touched down in DC for a stamp reveal honoring Barbara Bush, followed by a celebration for military mothers. But for the most part, Melania prefers the calm of Trump Tower or the sun-soaked privacy of Palm Beach.
Trump insiders told the Times she does sneak into the White House every now and then — just not when the public’s watching.
Meme coins, kids, and a $40 million Amazon deal
Melania Trump may be elusive, but she’s not inactive. Behind the scenes, she has been busy curating her brand. She helped push legislation aimed at protecting children from deepfake exploitation and even dipped her toes into crypto by launching a meme coin.
Also in the pipeline is the jaw-dropping $40 million documentary deal with Amazon—a high-budget retelling of her time as first lady.
But all this is apparently playing out against a backdrop of fear and trauma.
According to two sources familiar with her thinking, the attempted assassination of her husband over the summer and a separate incident where a gunman got too close at one of his golf courses shook her deeply. Melania has been uneasy about her family’s safety for years.
Even during Trump’s first inauguration back in 2017, she was nervous to get out of the car during the parade.
Donald Trump hosts while Melania Trump ghosts
With Melania Trump allegedly glossing over her East Wing duties, President Donald Trump himself has picked up the slack. He has been seen redesigning the Rose Garden, hosting Women’s History Month receptions, and even greeting White House tour groups—all roles usually filled by the first lady.
It’s a major shift from nearly a decade ago, when Melania and Donald descended that now-iconic golden escalator together. Now, Trump is brimming with self-confidence, while Melania remains a polished enigma.
Still, she gave the world a taste of her plans in a pre-inauguration chat with Fox News back in January.
“I will be in the White House,” she said. “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. But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on January 20, you serve the country.”
