Melania Trump, the former first lady, broke a tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Friday. She was absent when Trump arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, for his first debate against President Joe Biden since their 2020 face-off.
Melania was also nowhere to be seen after the debate ended. While Trump exited alone, President Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, joined her husband on stage, greeting him and accompanying him to the moderators’ table.
Melania’s absence from Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has been noticeable. She has skipped crucial events, such as the campaign kickoff in Iowa and her husband’s Super Tuesday victory celebration.
Moreover, she did not attend any of the days of Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, just before the Republican National Convention, where he will be officially named the GOP presidential nominee.
Melania’s absence from the public eye since Trump left office in 2021 has drawn attention. In September, a banner reading “Where’s Melania?” flew over a stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Former President Trump has offered various explanations for his wife’s absence, citing family matters and defending her decision to avoid public appearances. He once told American journalist Megyn Kelly that Melania “doesn’t need to be interviewed by you to get ripped apart for no reason.”
The former first lady’s most recent public appearance was at Barron Trump’s high school graduation in May. She also attended a campaign event in April with the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that represents LGBT conservatives and allies.
When asked about her plans to return to the campaign trail in March, Melania told reporters to “stay tuned.” Experts also speculate that she may not return to the White House if her husband wins the November election.
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