Despite the 2024 election year being well underway, the role of former first lady Melania Trump in her husband’s reelection campaign remains a mystery. Insiders from the Trump campaign have admitted that her level of involvement is still uncertain.
“She will undoubtedly play a part, but the specifics of that role are yet to be determined,” a source close to the Trump campaign revealed. “The extent of her involvement is entirely her decision.”
Multiple sources, both internal and external to the campaign, have informed CNN that there is currently no sign of Melania Trump taking on a more prominent role. However, they also warned that she could decide to become more active at any moment.
“She is very deliberate and strategic in her actions and presentation,” a source close to the former President Donald Trump stated. “She is decisive and aware of the potential implications of her decisions.”
The specifics of her participation in the Republican National Convention, where her husband will officially become the Republican nominee, are still unclear. The campaign only recently began discussions with convention officials, and while they expect Melania Trump to have some role, it is yet to be defined.
Her absence has been noticeable, especially on Super Tuesday, one of the most significant nights of her husband’s campaign so far. She was notably absent from the victory event at Mar-a-Lago, their resort.
Despite her limited public appearances for her husband’s reelection bid, Melania Trump has hinted at a return to the campaign trail. When asked about her plans, she responded with a smile, “Stay tuned.”
Her occasional appearances on social media provide glimpses of her involvement in non-public events. Recently, she was seen alongside her husband at a golf event at Mar-a-Lago and a dinner following a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Sources have highlighted that Melania Trump has been dealing with personal matters, including the recent loss of her mother and supporting her father, as well as focusing on her son Barron. However, they also emphasized that she is deliberate in choosing her appearances and controls her level of involvement.
Her independent stance has been evident in her public appearances. In December, she spoke at a naturalization event at the National Archives in Washington, DC, sharing her personal immigration experience. In November, she was seen with other former first ladies at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral, with no involvement from Donald Trump.
“Melania has stated, ‘I don’t need to stand by Donald like Jill Biden; it’s as if she’s propping Joe Biden up,'” Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump’s former chief of staff, told CNN. “She is not going to follow the Hillary Clinton ‘stand by your man’ approach.”
Her absence has been a topic of discussion on the campaign trail, with flyers featuring her face and the words “MISSING” and “HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WOMAN” appearing outside some campaign events. Despite this, her husband has assured that she will join the campaign trail when the time is right.