Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Chip Somodevilla
Melania Trump’s sporadic appearances during her husband Donald Trump’s presidential campaign have drawn significant criticism. Recent reports suggest that if the former president wins, the American public should not expect to see much of her in the nation’s capital. Last month, an insider told Page Six, “Melania has made a deal with her husband that if he wins the presidency she will not have to be on first lady duty 24/7.”
According to the source, Melania is prioritizing her 18-year-old son, Barron, and is planning to spend part of every month — and potentially every week — in New York City. This suggests that Barron Trump is not enrolled at Penn, his father’s alma mater, but rather at New York University. Despite Barron now being an adult and legally moving out, Melania wants to stay close to her son.
The insider explained, “Barron has never been completely on his own before — and with the added stress of him being both a freshman in college and potentially the son of a president in a predominantly Democratic city, [Melania] wants to be close… The added attention he’ll get if his father is president worries Melania, who is also concerned about the reaction at his school over Barron’s ever-present Secret Service [detail].”
Melania firmly believes she can juggle the roles of ‘hands-on mother and first lady at the same time’. The source added, “She does not want a non-stop schedule of events in the White House and makes the point she can be both a hands-on mother and First Lady at the same time.” An insider close to the former president said Melania’s dedication to her son will be understood by parents across the nation.
The insider revealed, “Donald is close to Barron, but isn’t going to be tossing footballs with him when he’s the president and the head of the free world. Donald has already agreed to this and feels that mothers and parents across the country will understand Melania’s devotion to their son. Donald trusts Melania to bring up their son the same way he trusted Ivana to bring up their children… Donald feels it worked for Ivanka, Eric, and Don Jr.”
In the same week, a similar article indicated that Melania would maintain her part-time role if her husband is re-elected. Meanwhile, in an interview with Axios, author Kate Andersen Brower stated that the former first lady is ‘distancing herself’. Brower remarked, “She’s distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social-political scene. I mean, she clearly hated being in Washington.”
However, Mary Jordan, an assistant editor at The Washington Post, remains skeptical that Melania will take on a more active role as first lady if Donald is elected. Jordan claimed, “Melania does what Melania wants. Her view is unelected, not paid.” The editor also suggested that the former first lady would lead her staff with a ‘better’ and ‘more qualified’ team this time around.
