When it comes to Donald Trump, controversy is rarely far away. As President of the United States, scrutiny is unavoidable, but even by presidential standards, Trump continues to dominate headlines at an unmatched pace.
In recent days, much of the political spotlight has focused on the 79-year-old president’s repeated remarks about Greenland, which he and senior members of his administration have framed as strategically important to U.S. national security. The suggestion that the United States should pursue ownership or control of the Arctic territory — even at the risk of diplomatic tension within NATO — has triggered significant international backlash.
Amid that global debate, attention has quietly shifted to someone usually seen at Trump’s side: First Lady Melania Trump, who has not appeared publicly with the president for more than 20 days.
Questions Grow Over First Lady’s Absence
Before reassuming the role of First Lady, Melania Trump made it clear she did not intend to be a highly visible political figure during Trump’s second term. Even so, her extended absence from public events has prompted speculation among political commentators and international media.
According to reports, the last confirmed public appearance of Donald and Melania Trump together occurred during New Year’s celebrations at Mar-a-Lago. Since then, Melania has remained largely out of sight.
Norwegian outlet Dagbladet was among the first to highlight her absence, noting that while Melania shared a post on X on January 20 thanking supporters during her time as First Lady, she has not been seen at official events since.
“She is noticeable because she is not visible,” wrote political commentator Sigrid Rege Gårdsvoll of Vårt Land and AmerikanskPolitikk.no. “It is fundamentally difficult to evaluate Melania Trump as First Lady when she is almost entirely absent from the public sphere.”
Experts Say Low Profile Is Intentional
While public curiosity continues to grow, experts familiar with U.S. politics suggest there is little mystery behind Melania Trump’s disappearance from the spotlight.
Eirik Løkke, an adviser at the think tank Civita and a U.S. political analyst, told Dagbladet that Melania’s decision to remain out of view is deliberate and consistent with her past behavior.
“She does not want a public-facing role and prefers to stay in the background,” Løkke explained. “This was clear throughout the 2024 election campaign, especially when compared with other first ladies and spouses of presidential candidates.”
He further described her absence as a conscious personal choice, rather than a sign of internal conflict.
Overshadowed by the Presidency
Løkke also noted that Trump’s political presence leaves little room for anyone else to command attention.
“Everything is overshadowed by Donald Trump and his presidency,” he said. “I don’t believe he has much interest in others sharing the spotlight — and the attention surrounding him has only intensified.”
While Melania Trump’s absence continues to spark discussion, analysts emphasize that her preference for privacy aligns with her longstanding approach to public life.
As debates over U.S. foreign policy and presidential power dominate headlines, the First Lady’s quiet retreat may simply reflect her decision to step back — letting the presidency, and its controversies, speak loudly on their own.