Melania Trump, on January 20, 2026, marked the first anniversary of her return to the role of first lady, reflecting on the profound responsibility she assumed when President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025. She acknowledged the great responsibility and significance attached to her duties.
In a commemorative post on X, Melania Trump reflected on her role and its profound responsibilities. Alongside her reflections, she shared a black-and-white video presenting a minute-by-minute timeline of Inauguration Day 2025, which included the swearing-in ceremony, a prayer service at St. John’s Church, an inaugural luncheon at the Capitol, an honor guard review, and three inaugural balls.
At the same time, the first lady, aged 55, is promoting her Amazon MGM Studios documentary titled “Melania,” directed by Brett Ratner. The documentary chronicles the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s 2025 inauguration from the first lady’s perspective. The premiere is scheduled for January 29, 2026, at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., before its nationwide theatrical release on January 30, 2026.
Melania Trump’s second term as first lady is characterized by a unique approach, as she divides her time between the White House, Trump Tower in New York City, and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
The first lady’s East Wing offices were demolished in October 2025 as part of President Trump’s ambitious project to replace the historic East Wing with a 90,000-square-foot ballroom complex. The project, announced in July 2025, has escalated in cost from an initial estimate of $200 million to $400 million and is expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.
Despite her limited stay in Washington, Melania Trump has fulfilled key official duties during her second term. On January 24, 2025, she accompanied President Trump to visit areas devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Hurricane Helene damage in Swannanoa and Fletcher, North Carolina, where they met with affected residents and first responders.
Continuing with traditional White House events, she hosted the National Governors Association dinner on February 22, 2025, at the White House and upheld the longstanding White House Easter Egg Roll tradition on April 21, 2025, where she read “Bunny with a Big Heart” to children on the South Lawn. Melania Trump’s humanitarian advocacy has focused on child welfare, particularly regarding children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. In August 2025, she wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin that President Trump hand-delivered during their Alaska Summit on August 15, 2025. The letter, which focused on protecting innocent children, did not mention Ukraine by name but called on Putin to protect children’s innocence and “restore their melodic laughter.” The gesture was seen as advocating for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since 2022.
In 2025, she represented the United States during a historic state visit to Britain from September 17-18, 2025. Hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, this marked the first time a U.S. president received a second state visit to the United Kingdom. The first lady participated in a state banquet, toured the Royal Collection, visited St. George’s Chapel to lay a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, and joined Princess Kate for a program with young Scouts at Frogmore Gardens.
She also focused on technology and child safety through her participation in the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, emphasizing responsible AI development. “Our future is no longer science fiction,” she stated at the September 2025 meeting. “During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children—empowering, but with watchful guidance.”
In this period, Melania Trump has balanced her reduced presence in Washington with strategic appearances at key events, ensuring the visibility of the Office of the First Lady, even with its reduced staff and physical footprint.