Melania Trump has returned to the White House, but not in the way most first ladies have before her. Since Donald Trump’s January 20 re-inauguration, Melania has reportedly spent fewer than 14 days at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, maintaining her position as one of the most elusive first ladies in U.S. history.
According to the Irish Star, Melania has begun to make more frequent appearances alongside her husband, signaling a shift in their dynamic following what insiders describe as a “very low period” in their marriage.
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The couple’s relationship reportedly hit a rough patch last year after Donald Trump was convicted of fraud related to alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump denies Daniels’ claims, which involve an alleged 2006 encounter just one year after he and Melania married.
Melania did not attend any court sessions during the trial, and sources close to her suggest she was deeply upset. “When she found out years ago about Stormy Daniels, she was the most upset she’s been,” Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan told The Times. Jordan, who authored The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, added, “She was furious, and it was a very low period.”
Despite the scandal, the couple appears to have grown closer in recent months. “The trials and the cases in court have infuriated her and drawn her closer to Trump. She believes that he has been persecuted,” Jordan said.
Although Melania continues to avoid frequent campaign stops and public events, she made a rare joint appearance with Trump last month at Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, where they were seen holding hands. The visit coincided with Melania’s 55th birthday. Upon returning to the U.S., Trump was seen giving her a quick kiss before they parted ways.
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Insiders claim that one major reason behind Melania’s renewed proximity to her husband is their son, Barron Trump. At 19, Barron remains Melania’s top priority. “Barron is critical here, too,” Jordan explained. “Melania is enormously close to Barron, and he is really into the fact that his father is president.”
Melania has chosen to split her time between Washington, Palm Beach, and New York, where Barron is currently attending college. Her decision to stay near him is also rooted in heightened security concerns. Sources say she was deeply shaken by an attempted assassination of her husband last July and a subsequent scare involving a gunman on a golf course.
As in Trump’s first term, Melania’s decisions remain shaped by her protective instincts as a mother—putting Barron first, always.