If former President Donald Trump were to return to the White House, it is predicted that Melania Trump would likely be living there in name only, according to experts interviewed in a recent Axios report. The report suggests that Melania, who has shown a strong aversion to Washington’s social and political scene, would probably commute between Palm Beach and New York, where her son Barron is rumored to be attending college this fall.
Veteran observers, or “Melania-ologists,” believe that her presence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. would be limited to ceremonial events such as state dinners and special occasions. Kate Anderson Brower, author of “First Women,” told Axios that Melania is distancing herself even more from her husband and the political environment in Washington, emphasizing her apparent dislike for living in the capital.
Mary Jordan, author of the Melania Trump biography “The Art of Her Deal,” echoed this sentiment, noting that “Melania does what Melania wants.” This perspective suggests that any decision regarding her living arrangements would be entirely her choice, making her situation unique among first ladies.
Historically, only a few first ladies have not lived in the White House for the majority of their husband’s terms. Anna Harrison, for example, never made it to Washington after her husband, President William Henry Harrison, died a month into his term. Bess Truman lived at Blair House with President Harry Truman while the White House underwent renovations. However, Melania Trump’s potential living arrangement would be by choice rather than necessity.
The 2018 Washington Post report indicated that Donald and Melania Trump had “remarkably separate routines” and slept in separate bedrooms during their time in the White House. Despite rumors that Melania lived with her parents and Barron in another Washington home, her staff firmly denied these claims as “100% false.”
