Donald Trump, the president-elect, has confirmed that his wife, Melania Trump, will play an “active” role in his upcoming administration. However, it is still uncertain whether she will live full-time at the White House during his second term.
In a comprehensive interview with Time magazine on December 12, Trump appreciated his wife’s active participation in the campaign despite her infrequent public appearances. He stated, “She was very active towards the end, as you saw with interviews. And she does them well. People really watch.”
However, according to multiple sources, Melania Trump is not expected to establish Washington, D.C. as her primary residence. She is reported to have spent her time between Palm Beach, Florida, at the Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, and New York City, where their son Barron, 18, is a freshman at New York University.
This proposed arrangement is a first for a First Lady as none has previously chosen to live separately from the White House. Despite this break from tradition, Melania Trump is anticipated to be an active participant in major White House events and official duties.
During Trump’s first term, Melania chose a more private role, focusing on children’s welfare, and the opioid crisis while generally staying away from the limelight. This approach was observed throughout most of the 2024 campaign season, although she made several significant appearances.
The traditional image of a First Family settling into the White House saw an unusual departure in early 2017. While President Trump took up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron maintained their home in New York City for the first five months of the administration.
This arrangement allowed Barron to complete his academic year at Manhattan’s Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, marking a rare period when the First Lady and President lived in separate cities during a presidential term.
The former First Lady joined her husband at pivotal campaign events, including the Republican National Convention, his rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and his election night victory speech. She was also by his side at the New York Stock Exchange for the opening bell ceremony.
People close to Melania Trump indicate that she plans to leverage her experience as a former First Lady to shape her role differently in the upcoming term. She has already shown indications of policy independence, notably expressing a differing view from her husband’s on abortion rights in her recent memoir.
Melania Trump recently concluded a book tour for her memoir, “Melania,” which was published in October. Her absence from certain campaign events was due to this commitment, and she even declined a traditional tea and tour invitation from the current First Lady, Jill Biden.
According to Melania, their son Barron played a crucial role in the 2024 campaign by providing valuable insights on engaging with young voters. This family influence seems to be shaping her decision to stay close to New York City, during the next presidential term.