Melania Trump: First Lady or First Ghost?
First Lady Melania Trump's Official White House Portrait, 2025. Photo by Régine Mahaux. Public domain.
From the moment Melania Trump stepped into the role of First Lady in 2017, one thing was clear — she would never be a traditional political spouse. While Michelle Obama launched sweeping health initiatives and Hillary Clinton played an active policy role, Melania has remained a puzzle. Now, as her husband, Donald Trump, serves his second term in office, many are asking the same questions they did during his first term: What exactly does Melania Trump do? And where is she?
First Lady Melania Trump participating in the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. Public domain.
A First Lady Like No Other
Melania Trump has made one thing very clear from the beginning — she plays by her own rules. According to anonymous sources close to the Trump family, Melania is focused on her personal projects and has no interest in being a front-and-center political figure. Instead of diving into the nitty-gritty of politics like previous First Ladies, Melania Trump has allegedly been spending much of her time producing an Amazon Prime Video documentary about her life, set to be directed by Brett Ratner.
"She will never be a traditional first lady. That isn't who she is," an unnamed political insider told PEOPLE.
Additionally, Melania defies tradition by often splitting her time between the White House and the Trump family's Palm Beach, Florida, compound at Mar-a-Lago. According to those same anonymous sources, she mostly keeps to herself, though she does occasionally accompany her husband to events such as the National Governors Association Dinner and Reception.
'Be Best': Stepping Up or Sidelined?
Aside from the upcoming documentary, what is Melania Trump up to?
During her husband's first presidency, Melania launched her signature "Be Best" campaign in 2018, an initiative aimed at combating online bullying and addressing the opioid crisis. However, with her return to the White House, there are questions about whether she plans to revamp the program or let it fade into history.
In a rare interview with Fox & Friends, Melania Trump claimed she hoped to "expand" the Be Best initiative during her husband's second term. However, she also suggested that a lack of support from streaming platforms had previously hindered the initiative. "Imagine what we could do in those years if they will rally behind me and teach the children and protect them about social media and their mental health," she said, according to PEOPLE. Yet, there's been little evidence of major movement on the project so far.
Instead, Melania's focus appears to be on "Fostering the Future," a scholarship program launched as an extension of Be Best. The initiative, funded through her online ventures, aims to support young people aging out of the foster care system. While some applaud her philanthropic efforts, critics argue that her husband's policies on immigration and social services directly contradicted the message of her campaign.
Melania and Donald: A Marriage of Distance?
In many ways, Melania Trump's unconventional behavior as First Lady mirrors the seemingly unconventional relationship she shares with her husband. Throughout both of his presidencies, rumors have swirled about the state of their relationship.
While Melania has made sporadic appearances at key events — including a brief visit to disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California — sources say she is rarely present in an official capacity at the White House.
According to one insider, as reported by HOLA!, "(Donald and Melania) both live at Mar-a-Lago and have quarters in the White House, but she leads her own life and joins him when appropriate in either place." When she is residing in Palm Beach, she is most often seen dining privately or spending time with their son, Barron Trump, rather than engaging in political events.
Will Melania's Influence Ever Grow?
Some First Ladies evolve into political powerhouses over time. Melania Trump, by contrast, shows no sign of changing course. Moreover, beyond personal projects and sporadic public appearances, there's little indication that she wants — or intends — to play a larger role in her husband's administration.
So, what does Melania Trump actually do? The answer remains as elusive as ever. One thing is certain: she is the most enigmatic First Lady in modern history.
References: Melania Trump 'Leads Her Own Life' 1 Month into Husband's Second Presidency | Why Melania Trump will 'never be a traditional First Lady' | Melania Trump: First Lady of the United States | Melania Trump, enigmatic first lady who might do it differently this time
