Former first lady Melania Trump was reported to have not attended the first 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta. CNN and ABC News reported that she did not make the trip, while first lady Jill Biden was in attendance. Melania has mostly stayed away from the campaign trail, only holding a couple of fundraisers at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
During Trump’s criminal trial, most of his children showed up except for Melania, who did not travel to Manhattan to witness the proceedings. Melania has never shown much interest in politics, with her relationship with Trump being a subject of public fascination. Axios recently reported that she may not live in Washington full-time if Trump wins the White House in the upcoming election.
The former first lady’s absence from public appearances since Trump left office in 2021 has been noticed, with a banner reading “Where’s Melania” flown over a stadium in Iowa in September. Trump has offered explanations for her absence, citing family matters and defending her decision to avoid public scrutiny. Despite this, Melania made an appearance at a fundraiser in April and is scheduled to host another in July, according to Politico.