Trump solo: First lady, children out of frame in new term

First Lady Melania Trump, relatively out of public view during her husband’s first term, has been even more off-grid this time around. In the first 100 days since Donald Trump returned to office, the first lady has appeared at only a handful of public events. It is unclear how many days she has even spent in Washington. Trump’s other family members have similarly been missing from the White House, but most are not shying away from the public spotlight. Here is a look at what Trump’s family is — or isn’t — up to early in his second term: When the president has returned from Florida -- where he spends nearly every weekend — it is neither the first lady nor any other family member exiting the helicopter with him, but often his billionaire aide Elon Musk and Musk’s young son. Apart from fueling further speculation of marital strife, Melania Trump’s absence from this weekly ritual highlights what Ohio University history professor Katherine Jellison calls a “major and very noticeable” shift from precedent.

“She’s quite different from every first lady for a couple of generations at least, more than a couple of generations. I would have to go all the way back to Bess Truman in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s to find such a low-profile first lady,” Jellison told AFP. “Weeks and weeks go by and the American public doesn’t really see her.” So what has she been up to? The public may eventually get a glimpse via a documentary series she is filming with Amazon, under a contract reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.

Jaded by the critiques of her previous tenure as first lady, Melania Trump, 54, seems determined to “get the upper hand and have more control over her public image,” Jellison said. “I think the American people in general still feel they don’t know her, and maybe this... is her attempting to tell us who she is, but on her own terms.”

During Donald Trump’s first term, his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner held important White House advisory roles — but not this time. Ivanka has stated she wants to spend more time with her children, while Jared is managing a private equity fund. Elder sons Don Jr. and Eric continue to run the Trump family business, which now includes, controversially, a growing cryptocurrency portfolio.

Unlike Ivanka, they both frequently take to social media to tout their father’s MAGA agenda. Don Jr. — known for his ability to tap into the Trump base — is especially vocal and hosts a twice-weekly podcast, “Triggered,” which recently had Secretary of State Marco Rubio as an “exclusive guest.” Eric’s wife Lara Trump, who co-led the national Republican Party during last year’s campaign, now hosts a weekly Fox News show. It also frequently includes administration officials as guests. The Trump family has continued to “capitalize on their roles as the First Family,” Jellison said, in what previously would have been considered “quite taboo behavior.”

Meanwhile, Tiffany Trump — the president’s only child with his second wife Marla Maples — is expecting a child with husband Michael Boulos, and has remained out of the spotlight. The president has, however, tapped Michael’s wealthy father Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-born businessman with extensive experience in Nigeria, to be his senior advisor for Africa, and an advisor on Middle Eastern affairs.

Barron, the president’s only child with Melania, has grown up a lot since his father’s first term. The 19-year-old, now a towering six-foot-seven-inches (2.01 meters), is studying business at New York University. He won MAGA admirers with his brief inauguration appearances, but has since remained out of public view. Donald Trump’s camp has credited Barron’s advice on new media, such as podcasts and TikTok, as helping him win over young men voters.

Kai Trump, daughter of Don Jr. and ex-wife Vanessa Trump, has a growing social media following, especially on TikTok.

he 17-year-old, who notably spoke at last year’s Republican National Convention, posts frequent video blogs showing her life as an amateur golfer, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes moments with “grandpa.”

Agence France-Presse