Melania Trump made a rare appearance alongside Donald Trump on October 17— at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City—a charity event supporting Catholic causes. The couple remained expressionless as they sat side by side, offering a glimpse into the state of their marriage . Meidas Touch editor-in-chief, Ron Filipkowski, shared a photo on X, (formerly Twitter), that featured Donald bearing a tense expression while Melania looked down at the floor.
Melania finally made a public appearance with her beloved husband tonight. Just a couple of love birds having a great time. pic.twitter.com/0ABmC0DjDI
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 18, 2024
Filipkowski penned, “Melania finally made a public appearance with her beloved husband tonight. Just a couple of love birds having a great time.” In another tweet, alluding to the same photo, he humorously labeled the event as the Trumps’ ‘annual date night.’ Their frosty demeanor during the event came as no surprise to many. Melania often appears visibly unenthusiastic about being beside Donald and shows little interest in engaging with her husband. In the past, she was infamously seen swatting his hand away. Body language experts have also suggested that the couple shares no real affection.
“I sit next to you, but deal is no touch and no look.”
— The Shallow State (@OurShallowState) October 18, 2024
Many seized the opportunity to speculate and dissect their interaction. “She looks like she’s at a funeral. Not Trump’s of course because she’d be much more joyous,” a commenter quipped . “Melania’s thinking hard about how much she’s getting paid for this. Donald Trump is trying hard to remember where he is and why all of his thoughts seem to tumble away from him like a stack of dollars dropped in a casino counting room. Who is he? Where is he? What’s that light?!” another mocked . “Melania only goes to events with Trump if paid,” asserted another.
This is the first time the couple has been seen together since July when they appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. When asked about the reason for attending the event, a source told NBC News that Melania attended out of respect for tradition, as it has hosted presidential nominees from both major parties since the 1960s. The source also hinted that ‘this could be a precursor to more activity,’ suggesting Melania may increase her public appearances as the 2024 election nears.
Various reasons have been proposed for Melania’s retreat from the public eye, including her focus on promoting her memoir that launched on October 8. However, many remain unconvinced, speculating that her absence reflects a lack of political interest and a deep-seated disdain for Donald. This is not the only time netizens have speculated trouble in paradise. Previous public outings have shown the couple appearing to simply endure each other’s presence.
Let me bottom line this for you Perception is everything to the Trump Family so Donald’s lack of “chivalry” towards Melania is quite a “tell.” Chivalry for Donald was waiting for Melania to go first & ensuring she walked by his side. He’s been doing neither recently. Take a 👀 pic.twitter.com/D82WGO8iHB
— Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (@SWinstonWolkoff) March 10, 2024
Earlier this year, Melania’s former friend pointed out changes in Donald’s behavior toward Melania during recent campaign appearances, where he no longer showed the chivalrous gestures he used to— such as holding her hand, letting her walk ahead, or staying by her side, as per SheKnows . Melania also sheds light on the differences in her marriage in her memoir, exploring her life and relationship with Donald. The book highlights a significant divide between them, particularly on issues like abortion. Melania’s pro-choice stance also raises questions about her decision to attend the dinner, given its connection to Catholicism, which traditionally holds a pro-life position.