Melania Trump has been a constant figure who defied most of the conventions people expect of the First Lady from 2017 to 2021 and soon to be First Lady again in 2025. Known to be a very private person, Melania rarely put herself in the public eye and often made moves that shocked the public.
While other First Ladies embraced public roles and ceremonial duties, Melania took a different approach and in fact, distanced herself from her husband, President Donald Trump, on more than one occasion.
1. Least Campaign Activity
One of the most distinctive ways Melania Trump deviated from tradition was in her refusal to campaign actively for her husband when he ran for president. Traditionally, First Ladies play a big role in their spouse’s campaigns. They appear at rallies and events to show support.
However, Melania made very few public appearances during Donald Trump’s campaigns. She appeared on the last day of the Republican National Convention and at the Al Smith dinner but avoided the campaign trail for the most part. This was the first time a First Lady would not campaign hard for their husband.
2. Postponing White House Relocation
After Donald Trump had been elected in 2016, Melania Trump made news when she decided to delay her relocation to the White House. While most First Ladies traditionally relocate to Washington, D.C. immediately after her husband’s inauguration, Melania chose to stay in New York City to allow her son, Barron, to finish the school year.
Even during this period, reports are that Melania made use of her time to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement, bringing another layer of intrigue to the decision.
3. Separate State Of The Union Arrivals
In 2018, Melania Trump again broke with tradition by arriving separately from her husband at the State of the Union address. This was after allegations surfaced about Donald Trump’s affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels. Instead of attending the event alongside her husband, as is customary, Melania traveled in a different motorcade, creating a clear public separation.
This act of defiance was widely discussed in the media and raised questions about the couple’s personal relationship during a time of scandal.
4. Snubbing Jill Biden’s Invitation For Tea
When Joe Biden won the 2024 presidential election, Melania Trump was invited by the incoming First Lady, Jill Biden, for a customary tea, a gesture that marks the peaceful transition between administrations.
However, Melania declined the invitation, citing a scheduling conflict. This wasn’t the first time she had distanced herself from such traditions. In 2020, Melania also opted out of hosting Jill Biden after the election, choosing to forgo the customary meetings between the outgoing and incoming First Ladies.
5. Ignoring Tradition Of Transition Of Power
The outgoing First Lady is traditionally expected to assist her successor in the American political tradition, from offering guidance and assistance to symbolic meetings for a smooth handover. In this case, Melania Trump refused to extend the courtesy to Jill Biden after the 2020 election. She did not invite Biden to the White House to break with the tradition of graciously facilitating the peaceful transfer of power between First Ladies.
6. Missing Joe Biden’s Inauguration
Another stark departure from tradition was Melania Trump’s absence at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021. Traditionally, outgoing presidents and First Ladies attend the inauguration of their successor to give due respect to the process of democracy.
However, Melania and Donald Trump decided to entirely boycott the event and instead traveled to their private estate in Mar-a-Lago. This was one of the most overt breaks with tradition in modern political history, marking the couple’s refusal to participate in the peaceful transition of power that has long been a hallmark of American democracy.
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