Entered the White House 5 Months After Trump’s First Term
Rumors of Discord with Trump at the Convention Circulate
With former U.S. President Donald Trump winning re-election, his wife Melania Trump will once again assume the role of First Lady after four years. However, unlike during Trump's first term, there are predictions that she may not move into the White House this time. Recently, American media outlets including The New York Times reported that "even if President-elect Trump re-enters the White House, Melania is likely to spend her time commuting between her homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York, rather than residing full-time in Washington D.C." Melania is originally from Slovenia in Europe and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has regained the position of First Lady for his wife, Melania, after four years due to his successful re-election. However, unlike during Trump's first term, there are predictions that they will not move into the White House this time. AP·Yonhap News
Born in 1970, Melania is 24 years younger than former President Trump and has a background as a model in Italy and France. She moved to the U.S. in 1996 and met Trump two years later at a party in New York. After his persistent courtship, they married in 2005, making her his third wife. The following year, she gave birth to their son Barron.
During Trump's first term, Melania avoided public exposure. She even postponed moving into the White House citing their child's education as the reason, and was often seen with awkward smiles or stern expressions during diplomatic activities or public events attended by the presidential couple. It was even said that Melania smiled the brightest when the Trumps left the White House on the day of President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021.
Rarely Appearing in Public... Some Call Her the 'Reclusive First Lady'
Above all, unlike the outspoken President Trump, Melania remained reserved and rarely appeared in the media after moving into the White House. Although she launched her own initiative called the 'Be Best' campaign in May 2015, she seldom appeared in public. Because of this, she was dubbed the 'reclusive First Lady.' She rarely left the White House, earning her the nickname 'Rapunzel,' after the animated heroine, among White House security personnel at the time.
Melania's fashion received great attention even when she appeared occasionally. The sky-blue suit she wore at the 2017 inauguration was a product of designer Ralph Lauren, who built the myth of the American Dream, and it was interpreted as simultaneously implying patriotism and globalism. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News
When she did appear, Melania's fashion attracted significant attention. At the 2017 inauguration, she wore a sky-blue suit designed by Ralph Lauren, a designer who embodies the American Dream, which was interpreted as symbolizing both patriotism and globalism. During her visit to South Korea the same year, she created an elegant atmosphere with a deep purple oversized coat and blue high heels.
At the same time, her fashion choices sparked controversy. She was criticized for insensitivity when she wore high-heeled, thin 'stiletto heels' while visiting hurricane disaster areas. In 2018, she caused a stir by wearing a jacket with the phrase "I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?" when visiting an immigrant children’s detention center. This visit took place shortly after President Trump withdrew the policy of separating illegal immigrant parents and children, which intensified the backlash against her outfit.
Meanwhile, rumors of discord between the Trumps, which had been consistently raised, are currently quiet. Melania entered the White House five months late when Trump first took office. After Trump lost the 2020 election, reports surfaced that Melania had decided to divorce him. At the Republican National Convention, she was seen seemingly avoiding a kiss from Trump, which reignited speculation about their marital troubles.
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