The aftermath of this week’s U.S. election leaves a lot to unpack. Even with a full month to dissect the events, conversations, and speculations swirling around, we might still struggle to provide a complete picture.
This is hardly surprising, considering Donald Trump’s role as one of the most polarizing figures in modern political history. Over his three campaigns, he’s consistently attracted strong opinions on both ends of the spectrum. His magnetic, almost cult-like influence means that every aspect of his life and every decision he makes is scrutinized, debated, and analyzed as people try to understand what’s going on.
This attention also extends to his inner circle. Earlier in the week, social media buzzed with renewed curiosity about Barron Trump, while a host of right-wing figures vied for a closer connection to Trump, hoping to bask in his influence.
Then there’s Melania Trump. The former model played a prominent role during her husband’s previous campaigns and his first term as president. But now, there’s a noticeable shift. Perhaps it’s linked to the chaos following Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election, or the Capitol riot, or the hush-money scandal involving Trump’s affair with ex-porn star Stormy Daniels.
Whatever the reason, it seems Melania has chosen a quieter, more private role, opting to stay out of the spotlight instead of standing by Trump’s side as she once did. Her absence hasn’t gone unnoticed, sparking speculation that she may not even return to the White House if Trump wins a second term. Officially, she wants to focus on supporting her son, Barron, now 18 and a college student.
The speculation only grew when Donald Trump Jr.’s daughter, Kai, posted a family photo this week after Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris. The image, which included nearly every member of the Trump family, as well as Elon Musk, was captioned “The whole squad”—but Melania was nowhere to be seen.
Her absence was immediately noted on social media, where users wondered what could have kept her from joining the photo, or why the family didn’t wait for her to be included. Still, Melania reappeared briefly on election night, standing beside Trump in West Palm Beach as he delivered his victory speech.
