Melania Trump was notably absent as her husband prepared to accept the Republican party nomination for president for a third time at the party's convention in Milwaukee.
Her absence comes as a break from tradition as the wives of Republican presidential nominees usually deliver remarks at the convention.
In 2016, the ex-president's wife delivered a speech in support of her husband when Donald Trump first accepted his party's nomination at the Republican National Convention and again four years later when she delivered remarks in the White House Rose Garden.
Melania has largely abstained from participating in political events since leaving the White House and has not been attending Trump's campaigns in recent months.
Melania Trump broke from tradition and did not speak at the Republican National Convention this year
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In June, the former first lady did not attend Trump's first presidential debate against President Biden.
She was also not present at any of the court proceedings in Trump's hush money trial in New York.
But Trump officials have insisted that the former first lady will appear at the convention later in the week, despite not being on the list of announced convention headliners and keynote speakers.
Following the attempted assassination of her husband, Melania released a statement expressing sympathy for the victims of the shooting.
Ivanka Trump said she would be supporting her father from "outside the political arena"
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She said: "Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy and political games are inferior to love."
Also absent from the convention were Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner who both previously served as Trump's White House advisers.
In 2022, Ivanka Trump said that she would support her father from "outside the political arena."
After her father announced his third White House bid, she said: "This time around, I am choosing to prioritise my young children and the private life we are creating as a family."
However, it is reported that she still plans to attend the 2024 convention for her father's Thursday night speech, but will not participate in a political role.
Donald Trump chose Senator J.D. Vance as his Vice President
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Trump family members who are expected to deliver remarks in the coming days include Trump's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée.
They were all seated with Trump's daughter Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos on Monday night.
Kate Andersen Brower, an author of several books about the White House, said the absence of Ivanka and Melania from the convention in Milwaukee was a sign of the toll of Trump's first presidency on family members.
Brower said: "There is a lot of scar tissue for the Trump women. Ivanka was criticised by a lot of Democrats who thought she was going to be someone who could temper her father in the White House, and she couldn’t. Either she didn’t want to, or she couldn’t.”
