There are quite a few reports out there suggesting that Melania Trump does not want to get involved in the 2024 campaign. While it might be too early to tell if that is indeed the case, at least publically, Melania is supporting Donald Trump.
The Melania Trump Problem?
Melania Trump is “extremely loyal” to former president and husband Donald, according to former Republican deputy chief of staff Emma Doyle.
Mrs. Doyle’s comments came in an interview with Sky News Australia amid growing speculation over the former first lady’s absence from the public eye.
Melania has kept a low-profile since Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign in November last year, having made only one televised interview in support of her husband.
She has not appeared alongside the former president in any of his three court appearances so far this year, nor has she joined the campaign trail at rallies across the country.
Melania opting to remain private
Mrs. Doyle worked with both of the Trumps during the previous administration, first as White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and later as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the Office of the First Lady.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Wednesday, Mrs. Doyle addressed the ongoing rumors of a fallout within the family.
“I think she’s extremely loyal to him, and I think they have a much closer relationship behind closed doors than most people see in public,” she told the program.
“She is so private, and very focused on her son and her family. But I think – especially for someone who didn’t seek out a life in politics, and personally didn’t choose to run for office – she’s very supportive of him but would also be very angry that these attacks are continuing and that it has an effect on her family.”
Former aides attempt to dispel rumors
Doyle joins a number of former aides and current acquaintances in dismissing speculation over Melania’s lack of public support for the Trump Train.
Stephanie Grisham, who served as the first lady’s chief of staff and spokesperson, told CNN that she doesn’t “make anything of it,” despite the pair’s reported falling out in 2021 after Grisham released a memoir on her time in the White House.
“She is saying in her mind, you know, this is his issue, he can deal with it. He doesn’t need me there to prop him up,” said Grisham.
“She will show up by his side when she wants to, when she’s perfectly ready.”
Both Trumps are reportedly avid media watchers, meaning it’s almost certain that the former first lady is well aware of the mounting legal troubles surrounding husband Donald.
Moreover, R. Couri Hay, a New York publicist and acquaintance of Melania Trump, further addressed rumors in an interview with The Times on Thursday.
Hay said that much of her time is spent with her parents, or helping 17-year-old son Baron to find colleges.
“The former president relies on her advice and her support, but it’s all done very privately,” Hay added.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
