Melania Trump has been missing in action more than she was during Donald Trump’s first term. Earlier, she had a reason that her being a mother was far more important than her presence in the White House.
But now, with Barron Trump away at college, the first lady of the United States has no reason to not fulfil her duties as per the protocols. But for many projects we have seen second lady, Usha Vance filling the gaps. This has made people sit up and question if America even has a First Lady and if things are normal between Melania and Donald.
There is a recent photo of Donald Trump and his ex-wife Marla Maples that has started to make rounds and it has stirred up the headlines. Rumors about the President and First lady’s relationships are getting louder.
The image was clicked at a private event at Mar-a-Lago on November 6, 2024. It shows Maples and Trump in an unexpectedly intimate moment. In it, she appears to be leaning in for a kiss on the cheek while Trump smiles warmly. While it could have been an innocent exchange between former spouses, the online response has been anything but.
What’s with Trump’s ex-wife Marla Maples spending so much time at Mar-a-Lago? pic.twitter.com/lxKbCPwOwS
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 17, 2024
Social media lit up after the photo was posted to Instagram. As soon as the media got a hint of it, it was amplified to the national news. Melania’s absence from white house events and her seemingly cold behavior and emotional distance added cherry on the top.
Commenters have taken the picture and over-analysed it. They were quick to speculate about what the picture really says about Trump’s current marriage. The rumors were flying high mainly because there have hardly been any moments of warmth and camaraderie between Melania and Donald Trump in recent times whereas these former spouses seemed to be getting along very well.
Marla Maples and Donald Trump were married from 1993 to 1999 and have one daughter, Tiffany Trump. Despite their divorce, the two have maintained a cordial relationship, and Maples occasionally shows public support for Trump’s political endeavors.
Trump’s ex-wife Marla Maples stands by former president, ready to help his campaign https://t.co/d06hDKUyCb pic.twitter.com/PYZOkGv9kT
— New York Post (@nypost) July 11, 2024
In fact, Marla Maples had expressed willingness to be involved in Trump’s 2024 campaign. She even floated the possibility of taking a larger political role and jokingly suggested she wouldn’t rule out a vice presidential spot.
Melania Trump’s absence from the public continues to fuel speculation about marriage trouble.
She has been notably reclusive since the beginning of the second term.
Her limited public appearances and lack of commentary have only added to the idea that things are probably hanging by a thread or that marriage has already run its course.
Holy shit! Elon out here telling the truth about Trump and Epstein. pic.twitter.com/x8Gxmyo3Li
— Outspoken™️ (@Out5p0ken) June 5, 2025
There has been no acknowledgement regarding the photo or the rumors from Donald Trump’s family or the White House. President Trump has been facing a lot of challenges right now. With his fallout with Elon, Epstein Files, immigration rhetoric and tariff backlash, This photo could very well be a PR stunt to take the attention away from his latest missteps.
Many argue that the gossip may be overblown. They have pointed out that Trump and Maples have always been friendly co-parents and that reading too much into a single photo is unfair. Still, there is a stark contrast between Trump’s apparent affection toward Maples and Melania. On top of that, Melania’s silence speaks volumes to some observers.
