Where is the First Lady? Melania Trump AWOL

As President Donald Trump’s second term progresses, First Lady Melania Trump remains a strikingly absent figure at the White House, spending fewer than 14 days in the residence since her husband’s inauguration 108 days ago, according to sources familiar with her schedule.

Often retreating to Trump Tower in New York or Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Mrs. Trump’s minimal presence has drawn comparisons to Bess Truman, the last first lady to maintain such a low profile nearly 80 years ago.

Mrs. Trump is set to appear in Washington tomorrow (Friday), to unveil a postage stamp honoring former First Lady Barbara Bush and attend a military mothers’ ceremony.

However, her sporadic appearances have fueled intrigue, with administration officials declining to clarify her whereabouts or schedule. “It’s like having Greta Garbo as first lady,” remarked one observer, noting the sensitivity surrounding her absence within the White House.

Unlike traditional first ladies, Mrs. Trump has delegated duties such as White House decor and hosting events to her husband, who has personally greeted tour groups and overseen projects like a planned Rose Garden patio. She maintains a staff in the East Wing but rarely visits the office, and her visibility at Mar-a-Lago is equally limited, according to regulars at the estate.

Her limited engagement follows a tumultuous year marked by a public trial over her husband’s infidelity, two assassination attempts, and a contentious campaign. Sources say the summer 2024 assassination attempts heightened her concerns for her family’s safety, a fear that persisted from her first term. Mrs. Trump’s focus remains on her son, Barron, now 19 and a freshman at NYU, though she told Fox News in January 2025, “My first priority is to be a mom, a first lady, a wife… You serve the country.”

Mrs. Trump has capitalized on her role commercially, launching a cryptocurrency token, $MELANIA, in January 2025, and securing a reported $40 million Amazon deal for a documentary on her life as first lady, executive-produced by herself and directed by Brett Ratner. The project’s details remain unclear, mirroring her elusive public persona.

Her rare public appearances, such as the White House Easter Egg Roll and an International Women of Courage awards speech, have sparked controversy, with the former raising ethical concerns over corporate sponsorships.

Meanwhile, her absence from key events, including an upcoming presidential trip to the Middle East, demonstrates her preference for privacy. Historian Katherine Jellison noted, “She likes her own private world,” a trait that continues to define her unconventional tenure as first lady.

NYT contributed to this article.