Melania absent from key events as Lara Trump steps in amid tension reports
Melania absent from key events as Lara Trump steps in amid tension reports
Hannah Furnell Sun, August 2, 2026 at 4:52 PM UTC
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Lara and Melania are reported to have a 'stiff relationship' (Image: undefined)
Lara Trump has seemingly stepped into a more prominent role alongside President Donald Trump in recent months, as reports of tension with Melania Trump continue to surface.
In mid-May, the 43-year-old Fox News host accompanied her husband, Eric Trump, 42, the 80-year-old Commander-in-Chief, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth during the president's second state visit to China. Lara stood beside Trump as he conducted meetings with President Xi Jinping. Melania, however, was conspicuously absent.
More recently, on Tuesday, July 28, Lara joined her husband and father-in-law at Lindsey Graham's funeral, but Melania was again notably missing. As Lara continues to fill in for her stepmother-in-law at key events, sources suggest the 56-year-old First Lady and the former co-chair of the RNC share a "stiff relationship," with Melania seemingly keeping Lara at arm's length.
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Melania is known to maintain distance from other Trump family women, even keeping a cordial rather than maternal bond with First Daughter Ivanka. Despite this, Lara has expressed admiration for Melania, once praising both Melania and Ivanka, 44, for their "impeccable style." Melania has not publicly commented on Lara, reports the Irish Star.
In April, Lara defended Melania after Jimmy Kimmel broadcast a video impersonating the MC of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, joking that the First Lady resembled "an expectant widow."
Lara Trump accompanied the president to China (Image: Getty Images)
The poorly timed remark about Melania came just days before the actual event on April 25, which was interrupted by a shooter. "Jimmy Kimmel has really fallen off the deep end," Lara said on Fox News.
"None of this is funny. Comedy isn't funny anymore."
Lara indicated she supported Melania and the president's demand for the late-night host's dismissal from ABC. Kimmel's Jimmy Kimmel Live! was temporarily taken off air in September 2025 following his remarks about the death of Charlie Kirk.
Lara expressed enthusiasm about joining Trump on his trip to China. "Team CHYYYYYNA," wrote Lara in an Instagram caption before leaving for Beijing.
She concluded the post with both China's and the United States' flags. The photograph featured notable individuals including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Lara Trump has stepped in on several occasions when Melania was absent (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"First Lady Melania Trump is not traveling this time," the First Lady's office informed the South China Morning Post, confirming that Melania would not be joining her husband in China. No additional details were given.
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Melania accompanied her husband to China during his initial visit in 2017. Throughout the trip, she participated in numerous engagements, including educational and cultural programs.
The First Lady also engaged in calligraphy, cooking and astronomy activities.
Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade actually confused Lara with Melania in video showing her descending from Air Force One behind Trump. During the live segment, Kilmeade stated, "As the first lady comes down the stairs to join the president."
Shortly after the error, his co-host stepped in to correct him.
Meanwhile, an astrology specialist, Tracy Higgs, spoke to The Irish Star about the reported dynamic between Melania and Lara, stating, "On the surface, they can appear harmonious because both signs dislike unnecessary confrontation, but underneath, there can be tension around position, image, and influence."
Melania has since found herself under fire for her absence at Lindsey Graham's funeral. On Tuesday, July 28, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Eric, and Lara were all in attendance at the memorial service for the late Republican Senator, who died on July 11.
The service took place at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., yet the First Lady was conspicuously absent. Scores of critics took to X to express their outrage over her non-appearance at Graham's funeral.
One person wrote, "Why wasn't Melania there? What a disgrace. Thank God Eric and Lara Trump were there to support him. I pray he dumps her a--," as another slammed, "Why are all these clowns together in the front row? Where's Melania? Where's Usha?"
Lara Trump was present at Lindsey Graham's funeral (Image: Getty Images)
A third fumed, "Melania, you should be at the funeral. What's wrong not at dinner and now," as a fourth noted, "#melania trump didn't attend @LindseyGrahamSC funeral with her husband but was perched up at the FIFA World Cup finals?"
Yet another critic weighed in, "She's a failure as a wife to our President. Abandoning him today at the memorial for his friend. Thank God Eric and Lara Trump are there in support."
However, Melania may be avoiding high-profile appearances at present, as she and her son, Barron Trump, have recently been subjected to a disturbing new assassination threat connected to Iran.
The Tasnim News Agency, which has ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, published an AI-generated video on Monday, July 27, identifying locations regularly visited by the First Lady and detailing how potential attackers could target her.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
