Melania Trump ‘leading her own life’ away from Donald as insider details their rare time together

Melania Trump’s public appearances with her husband, Donald Trump, have been notably rare since his second inauguration
PUBLISHED FEB 26, 2025
As President Donald Trump settles into his second term, Melania Trump seems to be taking a more independent approach to her role as first lady (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
As President Donald Trump settles into his second term, Melania Trump seems to be taking a more independent approach to her role as first lady (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: As President Donald Trump settles into his second term, First Lady Melania Trump seems to be taking a more independent approach to her role, spending much of her time away from the White House. 

Sources revealed that Melania is focusing on her own interests and priorities. Her recent return to Washington for the annual Governors Ball marked her first public appearance in nearly a month, sparking speculation about her involvement in the nation’s capital. 

Before the event, Melania was last seen with President Trump during visits to disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California on January 24.

First lady Melania Trump looks on as her husband U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) addresses guests and supporters in an overflow room in Emancipation Hall after his inauguration at the U.S Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States. (Photo by Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump looks on as her husband President Donald Trump (not pictured) addresses guests and supporters in an overflow room in Emancipation Hall after his inauguration at the US Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

Melania Trump’s absence from White House 'should not come as a surprise'

A source recently shared with People that Melania Trump's absence from the spotlight during her husband Donald Trump's first few weeks in office is not unusual. The source confirmed that this "should not come as a surprise because this is how she lives".

"She will never be a traditional first lady. That isn’t who she is," they added.

According to the source, Melania has "her own ideas on what she wants to do" and has been focusing on her own projects. Recently, she has spent time in the White House working on these initiatives.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump dances with his wife First Lady Melania Trump at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President DonaldTrump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump dances with his wife First Lady Melania Trump at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

One of Melania's notable projects is an upcoming Amazon Prime Video documentary directed by Brett Ratner, which she is executive producing alongside Fernando Sulichin.

A Miami political source revealed, "Melania has been busy shooting her documentary and that has taken place in several locations, including the White House."  

Although the release date has not been officially announced, it is reported that the documentary could be released in the second half of 2025.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump enter Emancipation Hall to review the troops his inauguration in the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Jasper Colt - Pool/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump enter Emancipation Hall to review the troops his inauguration in the US Capitol on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Jasper Colt - Pool/Getty Images)

The source also noted that Melania has spent much of the past month either at Mar-a-Lago or the White House. However, she hasn't spent significant time in the White House in an official capacity. 

The source explained, "[Donald and Melania] both live at Mar-a-Lago and have quarters in the White House. But she leads her own life and joins him when appropriate in either place." 

When in Palm Beach, Melania typically "keeps to herself," but occasionally accompanies her husband to dinner.

U.S. President Donald Trump kisses first lady Melania Trump after his inauguration at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images)
 President Donald Trump kisses first lady Melania Trump after his inauguration at the US Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC (Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images)

Melania and Donald Trump’s relationship not in the best place, claims bombshell book

Melania Trump’s public appearances with her husband, Donald Trump, have been notably rare since his second inauguration. Reports indicate that she is splitting her time between Florida and New York, where their son Barron is attending college.

In his new book 'All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America', author Michael Wolff claimed that Melania and Trump’s relationship may not be in the best place, citing a source who claimed, "She f**king hates him." 

Wolff also wrote that the “most public marriage in the nation was breaking down", per Mirror. The book further highlighted that Melania did not make a single campaign appearance in the 18 months leading up to the Republican National Convention (RNC) last year.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump walks onstage with wife Melania at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump walks onstage with wife Melania at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, in addition to Melania Trump's absence from the White House, there has also been little movement surrounding her Be Best initiative. Launched in May 2018, the program was designed to combat online bullying and promote children's wellbeing. 

In a January interview with 'Fox & Friends', Melania expressed hope to expand the initiative, saying, “Imagine what we could do in those years if they will rally behind me and teach the children and protect them about social media and their mental health. It will be an exciting four years. We have a lot to do."

However, amid the over 250 announcements posted on the White House’s official website since the inauguration, Melania’s involvement is hardly mentioned.

Aside from her public profile page, only two announcements reference her—one about public tours and another about her official portrait.

Neither of these mentions the Be Best initiative. The official Be Best website has since been archived, with the last post being a farewell message from Melania Trump on January 18, 2021.

MORE STORIES

Top officials in the Trump administration discussed invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to deploy military forces on US soil
3 hours ago
Gavin Newsom rejected the bipartisan bill, calling it too costly and warning it could disrupt how California determines firefighter pay
23 hours ago
The vote comes as California’s education agencies face a US Department of Justice lawsuit over alleged Title IX violations in girls’ sports
1 day ago
Donald Trump took aim at Sen Richard Blumenthal after his tense face-off with Attorney General Pam Bondi during a congressional hearing
1 day ago
Dick Durbin pressed Pam Bondi to justify sending troops to Illinois, accusing the Justice Department of hiding key information from the public
1 day ago
The comedian dubbed Chuck Schumer 'Hack-ie Mason', and then went on a rant against Democratic leadership in general
1 day ago
Trump promised America’s men and women in uniform that their pay is safe despite the government shutdown
3 days ago
The stipend is part of measures taken by the Trump administration to reduce illegal immigrants in US
5 days ago
The directive followed Donald Trump’s August 2025 executive order instructing law enforcement and military to immediately arrest flag burners
5 days ago
Sen Roger Marshall introduced the Passport Sanity Act to end gender-neutral passports citing security and Trump-era precedent
6 days ago