First Lady Melania Trump has maintained a limited role in her White House activities during the initial months of President Donald Trump’s second term. Her focus has been on personal endeavors and family responsibilities, resulting in minimal time spent in Washington, D.C.
According to recent reports, Mrs. Trump has spent fewer than 14 days at the White House since the inauguration. She has primarily stayed at Trump Tower in New York City and the family’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Sources within the administration suggest Mrs. Trump has intentionally kept a low profile, making few public appearances. These include attending the annual White House Easter Egg Roll and presenting honors during the State Department’s International Women of Courage awards ceremony. She also led a tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush in the East Room on May 8, where the US Postal Service introduced a new stamp featuring Bush’s portrait.
Her limited presence in Washington is reminiscent of her approach during President Trump’s first term, when she remained in New York to allow their son Barron to complete the school year. Barron is now a freshman at New York University’s Stern School of Business, which may partly explain her continued presence in Manhattan.
In a pre-inauguration interview with Fox News, Mrs. Trump spoke about her plans for balancing her residences: “I will be in the White House. And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach,” she explained. “But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife.”
Despite her absence from Washington, Mrs. Trump has been occupied with a documentary about her life, which she licensed to Amazon for $40 million. The documentary started production in November 2024 and is directed by Brett Ratner, who is returning to filmmaking after a hiatus since 2017.
In a January interview on “Fox & Friends,” Mrs. Trump described the documentary’s scope, stating it covers “day-to-day life, what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have. People, they don’t really know and they will see it.”
The documentary offers viewers a behind-the-scenes view of Mrs. Trump’s return to the White House, including her efforts in forming her team and setting up the First Lady’s office.
According to industry sources, the deal with Amazon is financially beneficial for the First Lady. The Wall Street Journal reported she will receive over 70% of the $40 million licensing fee. The project is planned for a limited theatrical release and streaming on Amazon Prime Video in late 2025.
Amazon has described the documentary as providing an “unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at First Lady Melania Trump.” They stated, “We are excited to share this truly unique story with our millions of customers around the world.”
Mrs. Trump’s reduced presence at the White House has meant some traditional first lady duties have been reassigned. Sources say President Trump has assumed some of these responsibilities, including decisions on White House decor. He has reportedly made several changes to the Oval Office, which include adding more flags, portraits, and gold finishes.
While her absence has prompted speculation, associates describe her approach as consistent with her independent nature. A source quoted in People magazine stated she “couldn’t care less how she looks politically” and “doesn’t believe she has obligations in the political world.”
White House officials assert that Mrs. Trump is fulfilling her role effectively despite her limited presence in Washington. Representatives maintain she is at the White House more often than perceived and that she enjoys her role as first lady.
This documentary project follows the release of Mrs. Trump’s memoir, titled “Melania,” which came out in October 2024 and became a bestseller. During interviews promoting the book, she expressed confidence about returning to the White House in Trump’s second term.
The relationship between Amazon and the Trump administration has been in the spotlight recently, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressing optimism about Trump’s second term. In addition to licensing Mrs. Trump’s documentary, Amazon contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and streamed the event on its Prime Video platform.
