Melania Trump's Quiet Campaign Presence and Memoir Release Draw Attention

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Fox News host Howard Kurtz remarked on Sunday that former First Lady Melania Trump has remained "barely visible" in her husband Donald Trump's ongoing presidential campaign. During a Fox News segment, Kurtz questioned the timing of Melania's upcoming memoir, suggesting that its release seemed unusual given her minimal public role in the campaign. He specifically asked Fox News analyst Kat Timpf whether the release was "odd" in light of her low profile.

Melania Trump releases video for her new memoir ‘Melania.’

“Writing this memoir has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for me. As a private person who has often been the subject of public scrutiny and misrepresentation, I feel a responsibility to clarify the facts.” pic.twitter.com/SS3mxlxqOK

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 6, 2024

 

Timpf agreed, calling the timing "very odd" but emphasizing Melania’s poise. “She is a very polished woman,” Timpf noted. “When she speaks, I feel like I listen because she doesn’t speak often.” Melania Trump’s memoir, simply titled *Melania*, is set to be published on October 8. The book will trace her life from her childhood in Slovenia through her fashion career and her marriage to Donald Trump. It will also provide "behind-the-scenes stories from her time in the White House," focusing on her advocacy work and personal causes.

 

Kurtz and Timpf's comments came just days after Melania promoted the memoir in a rare media appearance. The interview, conducted by Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt, was Melania's first in two years. The former first lady discussed her book and hinted at what readers could expect, while her husband Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to promote a special Fox News segment airing Sunday evening, which would feature more on Melania.

 

Since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has stayed largely out of the public eye. Unlike other political spouses, such as Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, or Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, Melania has not been active on the campaign trail. She has made only a few appearances, most notably at the Republican National Convention in July, where her husband was officially named the GOP nominee. However, she did not deliver any public remarks during the event, despite its significance.

 

Donald Trump has previously addressed his wife’s limited public appearances, describing her as "a private person, a great person, a very confident person" in a 2023 interview. He expressed confidence that she would join the campaign when “it’s appropriate,” emphasizing her love for the country.

 

As of Sunday, Melania's memoir is already a bestseller on Amazon, with many readers eager to pre-order it ahead of its October release. The book’s publication date comes just weeks before the November 5 Election Day, a critical moment in Donald Trump’s political comeback effort. Despite her husband's busy schedule, he admitted during a recent campaign rally that he had not yet read his wife’s book, though he encouraged supporters to buy it, jokingly adding, “I hope she said good things about [me].”

 

In her interview with Earhardt, Melania painted a positive image of Donald Trump, describing him as a “family man” who exudes “kindness and positivity.” She also reflected on the assassination attempts against her husband, which she learned about through television reports. “I think something was watching over him,” she said. “It’s almost like the country really needs him.”

 

As the presidential race between Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris tightens, Melania’s role remains largely behind the scenes, though her memoir may offer a more intimate view of her time in the White House and her perspective on her husband's campaign. The race is currently a dead heat, with most polls showing Harris leading in the popular vote, though the outcome of the Electoral College remains uncertain.

 

Based on a report from: Newsweek 2024-10-01