Melania Trump, America’s enigmatic first lady

Groomedto perfection yet rarely heard in public, Melania Trump is an enigma — afirst lady whose opinions, marriage and goals remain a mystery tomillions of Americans.She is without question a unique first lady: aformer model; the first foreign-born wife of a US president in nearly200 years; and the first for whom English is a second language.Ayear after channelling Jacqueline Kennedy in powder blue Ralph Lauren ather husband’s inauguration, Melania Trump has yet to embrace a cause,as did Michelle Obama with her anti-obesity campaign or Laura Bush andher literacy programme.For months, she stayed in New York, refusingto move to the White House until her young son Barron — of whom she issaid to be fiercely protective — finished the school year.She is infrequently seen in Washington and costing law enforcement tens of thousands of dollars a day in protection.“Sheis still an enigma after a year,” says Katherine Jellison, a professorof history at Ohio University who has researched US first ladies.“I don’t think the American people feel that they know the real woman yet.”Hercampaign-era pledge to fight against cyber-bullying has never come tolight and saw her mercilessly criticised given her husband Donald’s ownreputation as something of a Twitter bully.As the 47-year-old wifeof a 71-year-old man known for past lewd remarks about women, and whodivorced his two previous wives in a blaze of tabloid publicity, she isdogged by speculation that they lead largely separate lives.Anexplosive account about life in the White House alleged that she criedon election night and that even in Trump Tower, the couple spent “daysat a time without contact.”“People are still trying to figure outthe relationship between the president and the first lady, and I thinkthose kind of questions feed into the air of mystery,” said Jellison.Unlikethe Harvard-educated Obama, Trump makes few public speeches — perhapsnot surprising after her address at the Republican National Conventionin 2016 exploded into a plagiarism row, and given that she has beenlampooned for her strong Slovenian accent.A devoted mother, her mostdirect communication is a carefully curated social media profile:photographs of herself impeccably groomed, often interacting with youngchildren, or messages of comfort in times of national tragedy.Thatcould not be more different from the articulate, ever-present Obama, theAfghanistan-visiting Bush or the politically engaged, if unpopular,Hillary Clinton.“To find a first lady as enigmatic as Melania Trump, we have to go back to the late ‘40s and early ‘50s,” said Jellison.In particular, she cites Bess Truman, wife of Harry and first lady from 1945 to 1953.Butlast week, Trump added three new people to her East Wing staff,including a director of policy who worked formerly in the NationalSecurity Council’s Middle East Directorate and at Facebook.“I am confident they will enhance my work on behalf of children everywhere, while helping me further expand my role,” she said.Heroffice says she intends to announce a signature initiative “in thecoming months,” with a focus on “the overall well-being of children.”“MrsTrump continues to be focused on her roles as mother, wife and firstlady...while remaining an independent woman who stays true to herself,”said a spokeswoman.She has accompanied her husband on tours to theMiddle East and Asia, where she was photographed in dazzling clothes,many of them European, after several US designers refused to dress herin opposition to her husband’s politics.Her style may not beconsidered accessible but it has won admiration, despite back-bitingover her decision to wear stilettos when heading to storm-ravaged Texas.She changed into sneakers before disembarking.AGallup poll in December said she was viewed favourably by 54 % ofAmericans, up 17 points from January — she is significantly more popularthan her husband.“She is doing an amazing job,” enthuses PaoloZampolli, a long-time friend who says he celebrated the New Year withthe Trumps in Florida.“The world did not make it easy for her,” he said, insisting she is happy. “She wants to do a great job and she will.”Trump grew up in then communist-run Yugoslavia and is said to be fiercely private.Even in New York, she eschewed much of the high-profile charity endeavors and socialising beloved of other billionaire wives.No other first lady has not first been through the training of being an elected politician’s wife at a lower level.“Thefact that she has not made huge mistakes in this arena is a hugeaccomplishment,” says Jeanne Zaino, a political science professor atIona College.“Like Princess Diana, she may find her voice she may surprise people.”