First Lady Melania Trump has maintained a limited involvement in her White House responsibilities during the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term, spending little time in Washington, D.C., while attending to personal interests and family matters.
As detailed in recent reports, Mrs. Trump has been at the White House rarely since her husband’s inauguration in January. Instead, her time has primarily been split between Trump Tower in New York City and the family’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Individuals familiar with the administration suggest that the first lady has consciously kept a low profile, making only a few public appearances recently. These appearances include the annual White House Easter Egg Roll and the State Department’s International Women of Courage awards ceremony. She honored former First Lady Barbara Bush in the East Room on May 8, where the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a new stamp featuring Bush’s portrait. She also unexpectedly signed legislation alongside her husband this week.
Mrs. Trump’s limited presence in Washington reflects her approach during President Trump’s first term, when she delayed her move to the White House to allow their son Barron to complete his school year in New York. Barron is now a freshman at New York University’s Stern School of Business, which could partly explain Mrs. Trump’s continued residence in Manhattan.
In an interview with Fox News before the inauguration, Mrs. Trump clarified her plans for managing her various residences: “I will be in the White House. And, you know, 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 stated. “But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife.”
Despite her absence from Washington, Mrs. Trump has been active in other ventures. She is currently filming a documentary about her life, which she has licensed to Amazon for an estimated $40 million. The project, directed by Brett Ratner, started in November 2024.
In a January interview on “Fox & Friends,” Mrs. Trump discussed the documentary’s content, describing it as covering “day-to-day life, what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have. People, they don’t really know and they will see it.”
The documentary aims to offer viewers behind-the-scenes insights into Mrs. Trump’s return to the White House, including her efforts to establish her team, set up the first lady’s office, and make the residence her home.
According to industry insiders, the Amazon deal is financially advantageous for Melania. The Wall Street Journal reports that she will receive more than 70% of the $40 million licensing fee. The documentary will be released in theaters and on Amazon Prime Video in the latter half of 2025.
Amazon describes the documentary as providing an “unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at First Lady Melania Trump.” The company expressed excitement about sharing “this truly unique story with our millions of customers around the world.”
Mrs. Trump’s limited presence in Washington has left some of the traditional first lady responsibilities unfulfilled. It has been reported that President Trump has assumed some duties typically managed by the first lady, including making decisions about White House decor, with changes to the Oval Office’s appearance.
While Melania’s absence from Washington has prompted speculation, those close to her describe her approach as characteristic of her independent nature. A source quoted in People magazine noted that she “couldn’t care less how she looks politically” and “doesn’t believe she has obligations in the political world.”
White House officials assert that Mrs. Trump is fulfilling her role effectively, despite her limited time in Washington. Administration representatives have emphasized that her presence at the White House is more frequent than the public perceives and that she enjoys her duties as first lady.
This documentary follows Mrs. Trump’s memoir, titled “Melania,” released in October 2024, which became a bestseller. While promoting the book, she expressed confidence about her return to the White House during her husband’s second term.
The relationship between Amazon and the Trump administration has been noteworthy recently. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has shown optimism about Trump’s second term. In addition to licensing Mrs. Trump’s documentary, Amazon donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and streamed the inauguration ceremony on its Prime Video platform.