It seems there’s always a storm swirling around Donald Trump. One could argue that an unavoidable consequence of being President of the United States is that every move you make will be analyzed and debated, but even by traditional presidential standards, Trump’s ability to dominate headlines remains unmatched.
Much of the attention this past week has centered on the 79‑year‑old’s apparent fixation on bringing Greenland under U.S. control. The president himself, along with his top staffers and key members of his administration, have repeatedly insisted that securing Greenland is essential for America’s future security — even if any acquisition or forced takeover risks damaging NATO.
Unsurprisingly, the backlash has been intense, and amid the uproar, one person very close to Trump has seemingly vanished from view.
Melania Trump made it clear before stepping into the role of First Lady for the second time that she had no intention of using the position to wield sweeping influence. Even so, reports claim she hasn’t been seen at Trump’s side for 20 days, and some experts argue that this absence is by her own choosing.
It’s fair to say that most Americans hadn’t given much thought to Greenland — part of the Kingdom of Denmark since the 1800s — before Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Yet since the start of the year, it has become one of the world’s most heated talking points. Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of “buying” or “taking over” Greenland, despite Denmark, many Greenlanders, and several European nations making it abundantly clear that the territory is not for sale.
Trump facing a firestorm of criticism while pushing his agenda is nothing new, but the absence of his wife is something certain experts are now highlighting.
The last time Donald and Melania were reportedly seen together was during the New Year’s celebration at Mar‑a‑Lago.
Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet was the first to report on the First Lady’s apparent disappearance. Melania posted on X on January 20, expressing gratitude for her first year as First Lady, but according to the outlet, she has not been seen publicly since.
“She is conspicuous by her absence. It is fundamentally difficult to form an opinion about Melania Trump and her role as First Lady of the United States because she is simply not visible,” writes Sigrid Rege Gårdsvoll, a commentator for Vårt Land and AmerikanskPolitikk.no. Melania taking a backseat may not surprise those who have followed the narrative of Trump’s second presidency, but it has certainly sparked conversation.
Eirik Løkke, advisor at Civita and expert on the United States, told Dagbladet that Melania’s decision to remain out of the spotlight is not unusual.
“She does not want to take on a public role, but prefers to stay in the background,” Løkke said. “This was clear throughout the 2024 election campaign, compared to previous first ladies and spouses of presidential candidates.”
He further explained that Melania’s disappearance from public view is a “conscious choice.”
“Everything pales in comparison to Donald Trump and how he is as president. I don’t think he is interested in anyone else getting attention. And now there has been even more attention than before.”
What do you make of Melania not being seen for 20 days? Share your thoughts in the comments.
