After her term as First Lady, which ended in January 2021, Melania Trump has disappeared. From the Trump residence at Mar-a-Lago, she seemed to be spending her days, if not happily, at least in the shadows. Very little present during the presidential campaign of Donald Trump in recent months, she has only reappeared to promote her memoirs, Melania . A book in which we read, among other things, his position in favor of women’s right to abortionunlike her husband.

Farewell farnientehello Washington

For an episode of our podcast ScandalsIn a series devoted to Donald Trump’s private life, we asked Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump’s former friend and chief of staff during Donald’s term in office, what would happen to her if her husband wasn’t re-elected to the White House. “She’ll go to the south of France, on a very large yacht with a very wide-brimmed hat, and she’ll do what she’s always wanted to do, which is: absolutely nothing,” she had replied. But the ballot boxes have spoken, Donald Trump was re-elected on November 5, and with this result, the former model is set to become the First Lady of the United States once again. Unless she decides otherwise…

“Free Melania”

Certainly, Melania Trump appeared radiant on stage at the Palm Beach Convention CenterFlorida, as Donald Trump claimed victory in the presidential election on Wednesday November 6. It was a smile we hadn’t seen for a long time. The day before, as they went to vote together at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, she had appeared with her face hidden behind an imposing pair of sunglasses, as if blasé. And that’s more what she had accustomed the cameras to. Melania Trump didn’t look comfortable for a second in her role as First Lady. She didn’t even seem to enjoy it.

During Donald Trump’s first term in office, his wife appeared in numerous photos with a defeated face. Videos even showed her looking vague or lost. So much so that a hashtag was born on Twitter: FreeMelania. The most striking example is from the day of her husband’s inauguration. We see her in a sky-blue suit, first smiling at her husband. But the moment he turns around, her face suddenly closes.

Signs of annoyance

Melania Trump then began publicly showing clear signs of annoyance with Donald Trump, in videos that social networks had fun sharing. Among the most viral, two videos dated May 2017 show her clearly pushing her husband’s hand away, one as they disembark from the Air Force One presidential jet in Rome, the other on the tarmac at Tel Aviv airport. As he tries to grab her hand, she curtly waves him off. Given this track record, a second term in the White House doesn’t necessarily sound like something Melania Trump would aspire to.

Will she live in the White House?

It’s not even certain that Melania will accompany Donald Trump to live in Washington. As is customary, her husband moved straight into the White House after his inauguration in January 2017. But she chose to stay in New York. Officially, it was said that she refused to move before the end of the school year for Barron, their son, who was 10 at the time. But several media outlets claimed that she had never really settled in Washington, and that their son Barron did not live there. At the same time, there were rumors that the presidential couple had separate bedrooms when Melania visited the White House.

A part-time First Lady

Some say Melania Trump doesn’t even really intend to take on the role of First Lady again. “Melania made a deal with her husband that, if he wins the presidency, she won’t have to be a 24/7 first lady“said an anonymous source in the columns of Page Sixin June. The reason for this decision? Melania Trump wants to spend more time with her son. Barronwho started at New York University in September 2024. She is said to have expressed the wish to live between New York and Washington to support the 18-year-old.

Under condition

One thing’s for sure: Melania Trump isn’t one to let things get out of hand. According to Page Sixreported by all the American media, she had discreetly renegotiated her marriage contract for the third time at the end of 2023. In effect, she wants to make sure she has enough money left over after Donald’s recent legal troubles, which have cost him dearly. But she would also want to make sure that Barron is treated as an equal to Donald’s other children – which implies that he hasn’t been until now. And perhaps that’s why she now smiles alongside her husband. Because she’s acting on his terms.