MILWAUKEE — When former President Donald Trump and his entourage strolled onto the Republican National Convention floor at the Fiserv Forum in an unexpected but rousing entrance, there was one notable person missing: Former first lady Melania Trump.
Continuing a pattern of eschewing the limelight during the 2024 campaign cycle, the former first lady did not accompany her husband on his visit.
Trump, 78, was joined in his Monday entrance by Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and Tiffany Trump, among others. The former president donned a bandage over his bullet-wounded right ear after he was shot on Saturday.
His youngest son Barron, who has very rarely been seen in public was also not in attendance. Neither was Ivanka Trump, who served in her father’s first administration but has shied away from the political fray since he left the White House in 2021.
The Post reached out to the Trump campaign for comment about Melania’s whereabouts. The campaign had recently explained she was unavailable for an interview.
On Sunday, Melania, 54, issued a rare public statement about the assassination attempt against her husband.
“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband,” she said in a statement.
A bullet pierced through the former president’s ear, with footage suggesting it narrowly missed killing or severely injuring him. At least one person and the suspect — Thomas Mathew Crooks — were killed.
Two others were severely injured but are now said to be in stable condition.
Melania was last seen with her husband on Easter, along with a towering Barron during a celebration at Mar-a-Lago.
Melania is not listed as a headliner at the RNC this week, though the list could still change. It is unclear if she will make an appearance.
Trump trekked down to Milwaukee on Sunday for the convention, adamant that he wouldn’t allow the assassination attempt to deter him.
Earlier in the day Monday, the delegates at the RNC voted to officially crown Trump as the Republican standard bearer for president.
Minutes before that, Trump unveiled Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), 39, as his pick for vice president. The delegates promptly did a voice vote to designate him as the official vice presidential nominee hours later.
During Trump’s visit to the RNC floor Monday, he sat next to Vance, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and conservative pundit Tucker Carlson.
Both Trump and Vance are slated to give speeches at the RNC later in the week.
