Melania Trump Is Avoiding the Public and This May Be Why

The first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, hasn’t been seen in public since May 10, 2018. The last time she was seen, she was accompanying President Donald Trump to a Maryland military base, where they welcomed home three Americans released from North Korea.

Since then, the first lady has been totally MIA — but she’s actually been laying low for quite some time. It’s left people wondering: Where is Melania? Here are some of the reasons why she could be in hiding (pages 5 and 6), as well as the tweet she posted to try and calm the waters (page 8).

1. She canceled a trip abroad with her husband

Melania’s mysterious disappearances date back to January 2018. Although she had plans to travel abroad to Davos, Switzerland with her husband, she canceled them last minute.

According to Newsweek, President Trump was visiting the country to “speak at the annual gathering of world and business leaders at a resort in the Swiss Alps” for the World Economic Forum. The trip also happened to fall over the Trumps’ 13th wedding anniversary, making Melania’s decision to stay behind particularly suspicious.

Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s director of communications, told CNN that she didn’t attend due to “scheduling and logistical issues.”

Next: She clearly needed some time alone.

2. She took a solo spa trip to Mar-a-Lago

Melania also took some time away from the White House on a solo spa trip to her husband’s Florida golf estate, Mar-a-Lago. According to The Independent, her getaway cost taxpayers quite a pretty penny. $64,000, to be exact.

The members-only spa is known as “a tranquil haven offering an ideal relief from the everyday” — something Melania can’t seem to get enough of.

Next: Here’s where people are speculating she is.

3. People have come up with theories of her whereabouts

Melania’s lack of public appearances and private getaways have people wondering where she could be. According to Time, social media users have come up with a few theories.

“Has she moved back to Trump Tower in New York City?,” some have asked. “Is she cooperating with the special counsel’s Russia investigation? Is her health in jeopardy? Has she entered the witness protection program? And so on.”

Next: Her spokesperson had a lot to say about the issue.

4. Melania’s spokesperson claims she’s focusing on her role and family

Melania’s spokesperson has tried to divert the media from speculating on her whereabouts. Grisham tweeted, “The laundry list of salacious and flat-out false reporting about Mrs Trump by tabloid publications & TV shows has seeped into ‘mainstream media’ reporting.”

“She is focused on her family and role as FLOTUS — not the unrealistic scenarios being peddled daily by the fake news,” she added.

Next: Could her marriage be on the rocks?

5. Her marriage could be on the rocks after the Stormy Daniels drama

It doesn’t seem coincidental that Melania’s disappearance came just after the news of her husband’s affair with Stormy Daniels took the world by storm (no pun intended).

According to The New York Times, “Porn star Stormy Daniels was paid $130,000 just before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an affair she had had a decade earlier with Mr. Trump — when the Trumps were newlyweds, and soon after Mrs. Trump gave birth to their son, Barron.”

Sources close to the Trumps have claimed Melania was “blindsided” by the news, leaving her furious with her husband. It’s possible she could be laying low to avoid the Stormy Daniels drama, but she may be avoiding her own husband, too.

Next: This surgery may play a factor.

6. She had kidney surgery

The first lady had undergone an “embolization procedure to treat a benign kidney condition” in May 2018, according to Time, which could certainly explain for her more recent time away from the public eye.

She reportedly spent five nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland to recover. However, some doctors who are familiar with embolization procedures have claimed patients are typically sent home the same day, or sometimes the next.

Of course, as Time did note, “First ladies are under no obligation to make their medical histories public, and the White House has said nothing more about Mrs. Trump’s condition.”

Next: This may have pushed Melania over the edge.

7. Was it auto-correct or something more?

Shortly after Melania’s procedure, President Trump tweeted his thanks to well-wishers, notably spelling Melania’s name incorrectly: “Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House. Melanie is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes!”

Although he swiftly corrected his error in another tweet, many followers saw the original.

Next: She tried to calm the waters with this tweet.

8. Melania tweeted she’s ‘feeling great’

On May 30, 2018, Melania tweeted that she’s “feeling great” (using verbiage that sounds a whole lot like President Trump’s).

“I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I’m doing,” the first lady shared. “Rest assured, I’m here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!”

Next: A straightforward explanation that’s picking up steam

9. One comedian’s plausible theory

Comedian and actor Michael Ian Black may be heading in the right direction with his explanation for Melania’s disappearance. On June 1, Black released a series of tweets questioning her absence and the media’s role in it. One of his tweets read:

The only thing we seem to know for sure about her, based on their infrequent public appearances, is [sic] she hates him. That is a remarkable, and uncommented upon story in its own right. The woman who knows the president best hates him.

This rather simple explanation could embody Melania’s feelings right now.

Next: FLOTUS skips another event.

10. Another weekend apart

On June 1, 2018, CNN tweeted its confirmation that Melania would not go to Camp David with her husband, who traveled there over the weekend. FLOTUS stayed at the White House, where one reporter recently spotted her walking with her aides. Until further notice, the first couple’s separate lives carry on.

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