MILWAUKEE — When former President Donald Trump and his entourage strode into the Republican National Convention venue at Fiserv Forum in an unexpected but moving entrance, one famous person was absent: former first lady Melania Trump.
Continuing her trend of avoiding the spotlight during the 2024 election cycle, the former first lady did not accompany her husband on any of his visits.
Trump, 78, was joined at Monday’s entrance by Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump, Lara Trump and Tiffany Trump. The former president was shot on Saturday and wore a bandage over the gunshot wound he sustained in his right ear.
His youngest son, Barron, who is rarely seen in public, also did not attend, nor did Ivanka Trump, who served in her father’s first administration and has stayed out of the political fray since leaving the White House in 2021.
The Post reached out to the Trump campaign for comment on Melania’s whereabouts, after the campaign said in a recent statement that she was not available for interviews.
Melania Trump, 54, made an unusual statement on Sunday about the assassination attempt on her husband.
“When I watched those vicious bullets strike my husband, Donald, I realized that my life and Barron’s were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave Secret Service and law enforcement officers who risked their lives to protect my husband,” she said in a statement.
The bullet penetrated the former president’s ear, but video footage showed it came very close to killing him or seriously injuring him. At least one of the gunmen and the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, were killed.
The other two were also seriously injured but are currently in stable condition.
Melania was last seen with her husband over Easter, when she was joined by tall Barron at a gala at Mar-a-Lago.
Melania Trump is not among the headliners at this week’s Republican National Convention, but that list is subject to change and it is unclear whether she will attend.
Trump made a road trip to Milwaukee on Sunday to attend the party convention and vowed not to be deterred by the assassination attempt.
Earlier on Monday, delegates to the Republican National Convention voted to officially select Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.
Minutes earlier, Trump had announced Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio, 39) as his running mate, and a few hours later, the delegates quickly voted to officially nominate him as the running mate.
During a visit to the Republican National Committee on Monday, Trump sat next to Vance, Rep. Byron Donald (R-Fla.) and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.
Both Trump and Vance are scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention later this week.
