Where’s Melania Trump? First Lady hasn’t been seen in 18 days as her husband floods the zone

Melania Trump hasn’t been seen in public since January 24th, when she accompanied Donald Trump to North Carolina and California to visit devastated areas in the state.

While President Trump has come into office full throttle – signing executive orders, holding press conferences, and cutting the federal government – Melania Trump has been largely absent.

The first lady was notably missing at the Super Bowl this past weekend as Trump cheered on the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was first daughter Ivanka Trump who rode on Air Force One to New Orleans with the president and stood by his side during the game. Meanwhile, former first lady Jill Biden was on hand to watch her Philadelphia Eagles win a smashing victory. 

Melania also was missing from high-profile White House events, such at when Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, and when he’s greeted various foreign leaders, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and King Abdullah of Jordan.

She met with Queen Rania of Jordan at Mar-a-Lago a few days before Trump was formally sworn-in as president. The Queen didn’t accompany the king to the White House on Tuesday, however, mitigating the need for a presidential spouse to be present.

But the first lady was missing from a major event where spouses were invited: a dinner President Trump hosted at their Mar-a-Lago home for Republican senators and their spouses. Melania was no where to be seen as the couples dinned, dished and took selfies with the president. 

The East Wing did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. 

Melania also has been quiet on social media. 

The @FLOTUS X account has two posts – one of Melania’s official portrait and one expressing sympathy for those killed in the January 29th air collision between a military helicopter and American Airlines jet at Reagan National Airport. The FLOTUS instagram account only has one post: Melania’s official portrait.

Hello Magazine featured Melania in photo spread earlier this month. The glamorous  black-and-white photos were taken at an airport outside of New York a few days after the California trip.

Melania Trump was last seen in public on January 24th

Melania Trump also was a low-key presence in Trump’s first term. Her public appearances were rare and, when she made them, every glance, item of clothing and facial expression was dissected. 

At the time she said she was busy raising the couple’s son Barron, who was only 10 when his father became president. But Barron is now 18 and in his first year of college at New York University. 

Melania is believed to spend much time in New York, where Barron lives at Trump Tower when he’s not in class.  

Going into the second Trump term, Melania Trump made made it clear she intends to play a starring role but only on her terms.

That includes selling her NFT and her jewelry line. It also includes producing and starring in a documentary about herself in a reported $40 million deal with billionaire Jeff Bezos’s Amazon.

The film crew followed Melania Trump from after the election until a few days ago. 

They had unfettered access – joining the first lady as she packed up Mar-a-Lago, prepared her East Wing office, and even made it up into the White House residence to take footage.

Director Brett Ratner shot for more than 30 days and had such unfettered access to the White House that Secret Service agents were said to be uneasy, Puck News reported. 

Meanwhile, Melania Trump has made some moves toward getting her official White House life in order.

She hired some East Wing staff.  Before Inauguration she told Fox News she planned to revive her Be Best program and continue her work with foster children.

But the only statement her East Wing office has sent out was her official portrait, which was released on January 27th – a week after the inauguration.

In the black and white photograph, Melania stands tall in a black pantsuit with a crisp, white shirt by Dolce & Gabbana, one of her favorite European designers. She looks businesslike with her hands on a table before her, the Washington Monument visible in the background.

President Donald Trump talks with reporters as first lady Melania Trump listens, after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport on January 24th

President-elect Donald Trump, from left, takes the oath of office as Barron Trump and Melania Trump watch at the 60th Presidential Inauguration 

Melania Trump dancing with her husband President Donald Trump at the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day

She’s also brought back interior designer Tham Kannalikham to decorate both the official state rooms and the family’s private quarters. Melania worked with Kannalikham during the first Trump term.

But the interior designer said there wasn’t much for her to do.

Joe and Jill Biden didn’t change much upstairs during their time in the White House, she told told The Washington Post.

Jill Biden ‘retained much of the design intact, with only a few select pieces of artwork and furnishings swapped out,’ Kannalikham said.

Melania Trump was front and center on January 20th, Trump’s inauguration day. In her navy blue suit and matching boater hat, she was at his side for hours, holding the bible while he took the oath of office, saying goodbye to Joe and Jill Biden, and hours viewing the inaugural parade – all while wearing four inch heels.

She joined Trump for three inaugural balls, dancing with him cheek to cheek.

And she was there when the president made the first domestic trip of his term. In skinny jeans, a trench jacket, baseball cap and black sunglasses, she traveled with him to North Carolina to view damage from flooding after Hurricane Helene.

The couple continued on to California to view areas hit by wildfires, which have caused 29 deaths, burned nearly 50,000 acres and caused millions in property loss.

She sent hearts astir and social media chattering when she spoke to one woman in her native Slovenia, giving comfort. 

She sat in on briefings and even accepted a kiss on the cheek from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, her husband’s political nemesis. 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he hosts Republican Senators and their spouses for a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach – Melania was notably absent

Melania Trump revealed her official White House portrait on January 27th

Melania Trump also appeared on the cover of Hello magazine 

But, since that first week of Trump’s presidency, she’s been out of the public eye.

She left California separately from President Trump, who went from Los Angeles to Miami, where he stayed at his Trump Doral golf course. 

Melania has addressed reports she’d be a part-time first lady in the second term. She didn’t deny them but merely said she’d be in the White House as needed.

‘I will be in the White House. 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,’ she told Fox News in early January.

Meanwhile, Usha Vance has been a visible presence of late. 

She joined Vice President JD Vance on his first foreign trip, even bringing two of their children to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Paris stop.

But Melania Trump hasn’t been totally unspoken of in the White House.

During a press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last week, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked President Trump what Melania would think of a post that day from Elon Musk that read: ‘I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man.’

Trump was blasé in his response.  

‘Oh I think she’ll be OK with it.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk