Where is Melania? Questions Arise After Trump Arrives Alone in Atlanta

Former President Donald Trump arrived in Atlanta on Thursday without his wife, Melania Trump, just hours before the first presidential debate. Melania Trump, the former First Lady, has largely withdrawn from the public eye since her husband's loss in the 2020 election and the Capitol riots. According to Fox News, Melania has mostly stayed away from the campaign trail this year and did not attend her husband's criminal trial in New York over the past two months, even as Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump made appearances. Many analysts suggest that the former First Lady may also plan to step back from political life if Donald Trump wins a second presidential term. Writer Kate Andersen Brower told Axios that she believes Melania "is distancing herself more from her husband and from the social political scene in Washington." Meanwhile, Mary Jordan, author of a book about Melania, stated that Melania's absence makes her "stand out in history from any other First Lady." Donald Trump confirmed in February that Melania would be present "to a reasonable extent" in the campaign, although her appearances so far have been limited to a solo fundraising event with Trump. Melania and First Lady Jill Biden stood alongside their husbands at the opening of the 2020 presidential debate, and Melania attended two presidential debates during the 2016 campaign alongside former President Bill Clinton.