“This time is different.”
In a shift from historical norms, Melania Trump is not expected to reside full-time at the White House as first lady when Donald Trump resumes the presidency.
Sources close to Mrs. Trump indicate that she is unlikely to relocate to Washington, D.C., on a permanent basis, a decision that would break with the traditional role of the first lady living in the White House. The arrangement is still under discussion, according to CNN, but signs point to her preferring to remain in Florida or New York.
Mrs. Trump was notably absent from today’s meeting at the White House, where President-elect Trump began transition discussions. A statement from her office described the start of his transition process as “encouraging” and extended her wishes for his “great success.”
NEW: Donald Trump and Joe Biden speak from the Oval Office.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 13, 2024
The men were seen chuckling together after reporters started shouting at them. pic.twitter.com/Ix8AgExwTW
I’ve never seen Joe Biden this happy. pic.twitter.com/TYkgY5mXkK
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 13, 2024
The Daily Beast has additional details:
Melania won’t be entirely absent in Washington, the network reported. She’s still expected to turn up to major events like state dinners and have her own “platform and priorities as first lady.”
Rumors about Melania’s living situation have swirled for months. A handful of insiders told Axios in June that she’d live elsewhere in a second Trump term—perhaps at Mar-a-Lago, where the president-elect is expected to spend large swaths of time, or in Manhattan, where her 18-year-old son Barron is a student at New York University.
…
If reports are true, Melania will soon become quite the first lady outlier. All of her predecessors—aside from Anna Symmes Harrison, whose husband died a month into his term, and Bess Truman, who lived across the street during renovations—have lived predominantly in the White House since it was built in 1800.
Focus on Family
One factor influencing Mrs. Trump’s potential decision to remain elsewhere is the presence of her son, Barron Trump, who recently began his studies at New York University’s Stern School of Business. The 18-year-old is reportedly adjusting well to college life, with his mother describing him as “thriving” in his new environment. Barron commutes from Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan to NYU’s Greenwich Village campus.
READ NEXT: Beloved TV Star Reeling After Heartbreaking News
I don’t blame her. The one woman closest to her last time crapped on her. But I am sure looking forward to her classy look for White House Christmas decorating.