Melania Trump, the incoming First Lady, is set to break from tradition in her husband Donald Trump’s second term as President. She plans to split her time between New York City, New York, Palm Beach, Florida, and Washington, D.C., an unprecedented move for a First Lady.
Mrs. Trump has plans to primarily reside at Trump Tower in New York City and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. The decision is driven by a desire to stay close to her son Barron, who is a student at New York University. No previous First Lady has chosen to reside outside of the White House while her spouse was in office.
Insiders close to the First Lady suggest that she will take a more independent approach to her role this term. Mrs. Trump has established an extensive social network and lifestyle in Florida over the previous four years, which she intends to sustain during her husband’s second term.
Some have speculated that these unique living arrangements could indicate marital strife, but there is no concrete evidence to back this assertion. Melania Trump has previously voiced satisfaction with their relationship, stating that she is “not a nagging wife” and that she and her husband are content with their relationship.
Recently, the First Lady’s office declined an invitation from Jill Biden for tea at the White House due to scheduling conflicts with Mrs. Trump’s book tour. Her office released a statement asserting that “several unnamed sources in the media continue to provide false, misleading, and inaccurate information” regarding her.
Despite her non-traditional living arrangements, Melania Trump is expected to maintain a formal presence at key White House events and ceremonies. She has shown interest in reviving her “Be Best” platform and possibly extending it to include new initiatives, though specific details have yet to be revealed.
During her first term as First Lady, Mrs. Trump was willing to break from convention. Notably, she delayed her move to the White House in 2017 to allow Barron to finish his school year in New York. She also frequently arrived separately from her husband at official events, including the 2018 State of the Union address.
As she enters her second term, Mrs. Trump’s team stresses that she does so with an increased understanding of the role. She plans to continue advising her husband during important moments while preserving her independence and preferred lifestyle.
