Melania Trump defines her role as First Lady differently than her predecessors.
What: AP
Future first lady Melania Trump plans to divide her time between New York, her Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and the White House after her husband takes office. ZDFheute learned this from Donald Trump’s close environment – the broadcaster CNN initially reported on it.
The former model wants to continue to spend her life mainly in Palm Beach (Florida) and New York City after her 78-year-old husband takes office on January 20th, an insider reported to the American news channel.
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Melania Trump wants to spend time in Florida and New York
Melania Trump has built a life in Florida over the last four years and wants to hold on to it, it was said. She would also like to spend time near her son Barron Trump, who is attending college in New York.
There has been speculation about the 54-year-old’s future role for months. “Her plan not to live primarily with her husband in the White House makes her a historical exception,” explains ZDF correspondent Anna Kleiser.
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Almost all presidential wives followed their husbands to the White House, the official residence and residence of the president. The East Wing has housed the First Lady’s official office for decades.
One of the few exceptions: Martha Washington, the wife of the first president, resided with her husband in New York City and Philadelphia. However, Washington DC was not yet the capital of the United States at that time and the White House had not yet been built.
Melania Trump wasn’t always in the White House, even in her first term
Even when Donald Trump took office for the first time, Melania did not immediately follow him to Pennsylvania Avenue. She initially stayed in New York so that her son Barron could finish the school year there, and only moved to Washington DC five months later.
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Ex-model canceled tea meeting with Jill Biden
In the past few weeks, the ex-model has perceived her role differently than was expected of her as the wife of the presidential candidate and as the designated first lady. While her husband met with President Joe Biden in the White House on Wednesday, Melania Trump turned down Jill Biden’s traditional tea invitation.
Media reports said Melania Trump was upset about the August 2022 FBI raid on the Trumps’ private rooms at Mar-a-Lago. Jill Biden gave Donald Trump a handwritten letter congratulating Melania at the meeting. She also had little presence in her husband’s election campaign.
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Melania Trump is preparing for the role of First Lady
Nevertheless, the 54-year-old, who has been married to Trump for almost two decades, will remain a “steady voice” at his side, according to insiders. “She has already made it clear that she sees herself better prepared for her role this time,” said ZDF correspondent Anna Kleiser. In October, Melania Trump told Fox News:
I’ve been to the White House before. So when you go in you know exactly what to expect.
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Melania Trump, future First Lady
What can we expect from the first lady-elect in the future? According to ZDF correspondent Kleiser, “one can assume that Melania Trump will fulfill her obligation, but will decide very independently how active she wants to be in public.”
Source: ZDF