MELANIA Trump waved to attendees as she made a rare public appearance on the last day of the Republican National Convention.
The former First Lady’s appearance caused thunderous applause as she made her way to her seat and waited for her husband Donald Trump to take the stage.
Melania was also pictured with Trump as he signed paperwork to accept his nomination alongside his family, VP pick JD Vance, and his wife Usha Chilukuri at the RNC.
She wore a tailored red suit jacket and skirt as she walked out after the Trump family and Erik Trump’s speech.
The former first lady joined all of Trump’s children, their spouses, and their young children as they await for him to take the stage.
During Trump’s first speech since his assassination attempt on Saturday, the former president turned the attention to Melania.
“On this journey, I am deeply honored to be joined by my amazing wife, Melania,” he said.
It comes as:
She got a standing ovation from the crowd as she rose and waved from the family box.
Trump also thanked his wife for her letter to the American people after the shooting which he said “took the Republican party by surprise.”
Melania was asked to speak at the convention, but she declined the offer, sources told CNN.
She had previously spoken at the RNC, introducing Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Instead, Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, will introduce Donald Trump before his big speech at the RNC on Thursday night.
Declining to give an introduction speech for Trump breaks the traditional order of political events.
In the past, the candidate’s husband or wife makes a speech to humanize them and share personal anecdotes.
The former First Lady has chosen to step away from Trump’s third presidential campaign — only making two political appearances since the campaign began.
She attended the kickoff event in November 2022 at their Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, and was also seen voting with Trump during the Florida presidential primary in March 2024.
Melania missed the first two days of the RNC, but attendees are hoping to get a glimpse of her on Thursday night.
“I hope we’ll see Melania this week,” Marietta Bailey of West Bend, Wisconsin, told The U.S. Sun.
“I get all of my inspiration and fashion from her, she’s amazing. An icon.”
Another person said her appearance at the three-day event would be important to Trump’s campaign.
“It would be nice to see her because it shows she would be invested in this election cycle,” said Amy Jamieson from Chicago.
“I think we’ll have to wait and see. It was nice to see prominent members of his family with him Monday.”
The Republican National Convention is aiming to go out with a bang on it's final day.
Here are the list of speakers expected to address the crowd:
Several “everyday Americans” are expected to speak as well, including:
The day will also include a performance from singer-songwriter Kid Rock.
Jamieson said she watched Trump make the “emotional walk” across the during his first appearance since the assassination attempt that rocked the world at one of his rallies in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The former president moved at the last moment narrowly missing a bullet aimed for his head, leaving him with a bloodied ear.
Jamieson was impressed by his strength and determination to walk on stage in front of thousands only days after the terrifying incident.
“I think we want somebody who’s strong to get back on the horse and get going and that’s what he did last night,” she said.
“So, if Melania shows up, I think that would be just a little bit better.”
“I can’t imagine what it would be like to be married to the president, and having that traumatic event that happened this weekend,” said Kathleen Hoban from Sussex, Wisconsin.
“I think, for her to come here and support him would be one of the biggest benefits to his nomination, and I think they really need to step in together as a family.”
Following the assassination attempt, Melania released a statement on Sunday on X.
In her lengthy letter that called for unity across parties and the remembrance of love, she slammed the gunman 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, branding him a “monster.”
She also accused him of trying to “ring out Donald’s passion.”
“His laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine,” she wrote.
“Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.”
She then spoke about how differing opinions and politics are “inferior to love.”
“Our personal, structural, and life commitment – until death – is a serious risk,” she shared.
“Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.”
She added, “Let us remember that when the time comes to look beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with the passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthly realm.”
Melania also mentioned change at the start and end of her statement — she wrote “devastating change” and “the winds of change.”
People close to the Trump family shared with Politico that Melania was deeply unnerved after the shooting.
“I think she’s shaken,” former Ambassador Richard Grenell said at a Bloomberg event, per Politico.
“Barron goes to school this summer, so it’s a difficult time for parents to go from having your child around all the time to leaving the nest.”
“I think it really shook her.”
On Sunday morning, Melania broke her silence with a statement about the shooting.
“I am thinking of you now, my fellow Americans.
“We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascent and bring us back together as one.
“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.
“To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine.
“Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.
“Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment – until death – is at serious risk. Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.
“We are all humans, fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another. American politics are only one vehicle that can uplift our communities. Love, compassion, kindness, and empathy are necessities.
“And let us remember that when the time comes to look beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with the passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthly realm.”
“Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.
“This morning ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the single-minded ideas that ignite violence. We want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again.
“I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans.
“The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”
