Melania Trump has hardly been seen on the campaign trail this year of her controversial husband, ex-president Donald Trump, and she was nowhere to be seen yesterday after his attempted assassination in Pennsylvania.
The elusive former first lady has been absent from primary victory celebrations as well as her husband's hush money trial in New York.
Following her conspicuous absence from pivotal events in her husband's presidential bid, the former First Lady has become the centre of media speculation.
Her minimal public appearances this year have fuelled curiosity about her role in Donald Trump's 2024 campaign.
Earlier in the year, Melania missed key events such as the campaign kickoff in Iowa and the Super Tuesday victory party.
Mr Trump told Megyn Kelly on her podcast in September that Mrs Trump “doesn’t need to be out there”.
Around the time of the Iowa caucuses, her absence inspired Trump detractors to post Melania “missing” posters. The posters included a photo of Ms Trump and the caption: “Have you seen this woman? Where is our First Lady? Why is Donald Trump hiding her? We miss her. Please call 561-832-2600 if found.”
We all recall the day the former president eventually left office after his public denials of election fraud, when she stepped out of the Airforce One plane in Florida for the last time, wearing a brightly coloured dress and walked to a waiting car in the cavalcade, leaving Donald Trump alone in front of the cameras at Palm Beach airport.
Trump himself paused to wave at photographers, but his wife continued walking until she was off-screen, leaving her husband alone
Her relief of being out of the White House and the public eye was tangible to everyone.
The former first lady released a statement offering her condolences to yesterday's victims, condemning the attack and encouraging people to look beyond political lines.
"I realized my life, and Barron’s life, was on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband".
Melania Trump posted the following statement on X:
“I am thinking of you now, my fellow Americans.
We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one.
Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment – until death – is at serious risk. Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.
We are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another. American politics are only one vehicle that can uplift our communities. Love, compassion, kindness and empathy are necessities”.
One can only imagine the public humiliation that this dignified woman has had to endure over the past few years, including his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels and numerous sexual harassment allegations.
The reality that she now has to face is that, despite all of the revelations about her husband's infidelities and dodgy business deals, the assissination attempt may be exactly what Trump needs to win the next presidential election and she may once again be forced to step into the role of First Lady, which she is clearly not comfortable with.
IOL Lifestyle