Donald Trump insider shares logical reason for Melania's White House absence
Donald Trump insider shares logical reason for Melania's White House absence
Connor McCroryMon, August 24, 2026 at 5:18 AM UTC
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Former Trump aide Sarah Matthews says Melania Trump was rarely around the White House -Credit:POOL/AFP via Getty Images
A former Trump White House official is offering a rare glimpse into Melania Trump’s low-profile approach to public life, claiming the first lady was noticeably absent behind the scenes during her husband’s first administration.
Sarah Matthews, who served as a deputy White House press secretary before resigning after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, discussed her experience during an appearance on MeidasTouch’s On Sunday with Jack Cocchiarella podcast.
"When I was working on the campaign for a year and then at the White House for the last seven months of the first admin, I met the vice president, I met almost every cabinet official. I met members of the first family; I met all of them at one point or another. The only person I never met was Melania Trump," she said. The news follows Melania Trump sharing a rare insight into her childhood in Slovenia.
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Matthews said that remained the case despite her communications role placing her around senior administration officials.
"I never met the first lady, even though I was the deputy spokesperson for the president on his campaign and in the White House."
"And I think that’s pretty telling," Matthews added.
Matthews said that remained the case despite her communications role placing her around senior administration officials -Credit:AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
"That kind of sums it up, where it was this known thing that she was just not around, and she didn’t want to be around."
Matthews also claimed Melania had little interest in spending more time than necessary at the presidential residence.
"She didn’t want to stay at the White House."
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"She thought the White House was old and falling apart, and she wanted to be in New York and do her own thing."
The remarks come as Melania has again faced questions over her relatively limited public schedule during President Donald Trump’s second term.
After going more than a month without a public appearance, the first lady returned to the spotlight Thursday for an event in the White House Rose Garden promoting her Fostering the Future initiative.
After going more than a month without a public appearance -Credit:Getty Images
The program supports educational opportunities for young people who have experienced foster care.
Matthews acknowledged foster care was among Melania’s passions, but questioned the timing of her return as Trump's executive assistant, Natalie Harp, has drawn increased media attention.
"But I have to admit that the timing is a little suspect with all of the Natalie Harp things happening in the news..." she said.
Matthews also repeated reports concerning payments connected to Melania’s appearances during previous political campaigns.
"We know too that it’s been reported that Melania gets paid for showing up at events when they were on the campaign trail, which is crazy to think that you have to pay your own wife to show up somewhere."
Matthews then speculated about whether the recent attention surrounding Harp could affect Melania’s willingness to appear publicly.
"I wonder if her rate has gone up after all of this news, because I’m sure she doesn’t like any of this being out there—whether or not it’s true."
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
