Melania Trump Makes Rare Move as 2024 Race Heats Up

Former First Lady Melania Trump is set to host a fundraiser for a group of LGBTQ Republicans in a rare political appearance on Monday.

Trump’s decision to lead the campaign’s outreach to LGBTQ Republicans raises questions about her selective involvement in political events, The New York Sun reported.

Former President Donald Trump has also maintained friendly relations with other well-known gay conservatives, such as Richard Grenell, the first openly gay man to serve in a Cabinet post and as acting director of national intelligence under Trump.

Bill White, the former president of the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, has also had friendly ties with Trump and is assisting the Log Cabin Republicans’ efforts.

Katherin Jellison, a scholar of American history specializing in first ladies, told the Sun that Melania Trump may be leading the Log Cabin Republican fundraiser because “she would be more sympathetic than most people in the campaign to speak to LGBTQ issues.”

“This might be an issue that she personally cares about, and if no one else is doing outreach to this group of Republicans and fundraisers, then this is something that she would do. Perhaps the Trump campaign wants to engage with the Log Cabin Republicans and realizes that Trump himself would not be the most suitable person for that,” Jellison said.

The fundraiser aims to support the Log Cabin Republicans’ “Road to Victory” plan, focused on mobilizing votes for Trump and down-ballot Republicans in the 2024 election. Attendees are being asked to donate up to $100,000 for the cause.

In May, Donald Trump spoke publicly about Melania’s role in the 2024 race as questions arose about her involvement.

Trump told Fox News that Melania is prepared to give up her cherished privacy to campaign for him.

“It’s funny, she was a very successful model, very, very successful, and yet she was a private person. She’s going to be out a lot. Not because she likes doing it, but she likes the results,” he said, according to the network.

“She wants to see this country really succeed. She loves the country,” he added.

“A lot of first ladies would go out — they want to be everywhere. They get angry at their husband because he’s not introducing them,” Trump continued. “If I didn’t introduce Melania, she’d be very happy about it. She’s just a different kind of a person.”

Melania was absent from the family Christmas card photo this year for a poignant reason, according to reports in December.

The former first family shared a photo from their festivities, featuring former President Donald Trump with his children Don Jr., Ivanka, and Tiffany, along with their respective spouses. Barron Trump was also present, towering above the rest, along with several of the former president’s grandchildren. Melania’s absence was noticeable, sparking speculation on social media.

Sources who spoke to Page Six revealed that Melania has been caring for her sick mother, Amalija Knavs, who was in the hospital with her daughter by her side when the family photo was taken.

“Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family,” a source close to Melania explained to Fox News Digital. “It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother.”

During a New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump confirmed that his wife was attending to her mother.

“Hopefully, she will be recovering because she was very ill,” Trump said during a speech at the event, a video of which was posted on X. However, Knavs passed away in January.

Melania delivered a heartfelt eulogy at her mother’s funeral, stating at one point: “Her nurturing spirit had no limits, creating a legacy that will last for generations. With her beauty and impeccable sense of style, she turned heads. But it was her unwavering dedication and hard work that made her exceptional.”

Knavs was 78 when she passed. She and her husband, Viktor Knavs, 79, Melania’s father, have been residing at Mar-a-Lago for the past few years.

Melania emphasized her mother’s beauty and sense of style but noted that it was her “unwavering dedication and hard work that truly made her exceptional.” She shared insights into her mother’s resilience: “Like a string that holds everything together, she balanced the demands of motherhood with grace and poise.”

Speaking about her mother’s professional life, Melania remarked, “She worked tirelessly, pushing herself beyond her limits, fueled by the fire within. She is a true inspiration, a role model to me, and so many.” She also spoke of her mother’s passion for cooking, “transforming every dish, which she curated with her spices from her garden, to new heights.”

Melania reminisced about her introduction to the world of fashion through her mother’s stories: “She effortlessly introduced me to the charming world of fashion with tales of her glamorous travels to Paris and neighboring European capitals.”

She described these experiences as transformative, inspiring her journey into the fashion industry.