Melania Trump's conspicuous absence from her husband Donald Trump's Super Tuesday victory speech has fueled rumors of marital issues between the former first couple. However, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former close friend of Melania's, has shed light on the real reason behind the 53-year-old's no-show at the celebratory event held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
"Melania Trump was NOT at Donald's victory party because she did NOT have to be. His supporters do NOT care if she is by his side or NOT, so now she does NOT have to be. NOThing more, NOThing less," Wolkoff declared via X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, March 7.
Many social media users agreed that Melania's absence might be for the best, with one person commenting, "The smartest thing she can do is stay away," while another suggested that "those two live separate lives." A third person even referred to the rumor that Donald has an unpleasant odor, writing, "I just figured that the smell was enough to keep anyone away."
Despite the speculation surrounding their relationship, Donald Trump subtly gave a shout-out to his family during his speech, although he failed to mention Melania by name. "This is a day that we've been waiting for," the former president said to the crowd. "I want to thank my family for being here. It's a great family. I have a great family."
He quipped, "They've had it very easy since I decided to run for politics. They say, 'Thanks a lot dad, we appreciate it.' But they're strong and they're very capable people. And they love their country, they really do."
While the couple is rarely seen together in public, Donald Trump has previously explained that Melania simply prefers to keep a low profile. "[The people] love the fact that she's not out there so much," he declared. "You know, a lot of first ladies will go out. They want to be everywhere. They get angry at their husband because he's not introducing them. If I didn't introduce Melania she'd be very happy about it. She's just a different kind of a person. And she loves the country. She's gonna be out quite a bit and she loves his country and she wants a great and she says hello."
However, Melania's continued absence on the campaign trail is becoming a growing concern for Donald Trump's public relations team. Wolkoff, the author of "Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady," believes that a majority of Donald Trump's supporters for his third presidential run are more interested in him as an individual and do not necessarily require the presence of the rest of the Trump family, including Melania.
Despite this, Donald Trump understands the importance of having Melania by his side for the sake of good optics. As someone who is constantly aware of what is being said about him, he recognizes that Americans are questioning Melania's whereabouts. The former president is feeling the PR pressure, as evidenced by his statement during a Fox News town hall last month, where he promised that voters would see Melania very soon.
"It's funny, she was a very successful model, very, very successful, and yet she was a private person. She's going to be out a lot. Not because she likes doing it, but she likes the results," Donald Trump explained. "She wants to see this country really succeed. She loves the country." However, Melania has yet to deliver on her husband's promise, even though the Super Tuesday party was held at their own residence.
As the presidential election unfolds, Melania Trump's absence from the campaign trail is likely to remain a topic of discussion and speculation. While her former friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff believes that Donald Trump's supporters are not necessarily concerned about Melania's presence, the former president himself recognizes the importance of having his wife by his side for the sake of public perception. As the race for the White House intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Melania will step into the spotlight and play a more active role in her husband's campaign.
