Melania's Appearance With Donald Trump Sparks Mockery: 'Checking the Clock'

Melania Trump's appearance at a fundraiser with husband Donald Trump has prompted mockery on social media.

The former first lady has maintained a low profile as her husband seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024. She did not show up to receive an award at a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Friday, which the former president accepted on her behalf.

However, she did appear alongside Trump at a fundraiser with major donors at the Palm Beach home of billionaire investor John Paulson on Saturday.

The event raised $50.5 million, according to Trump's campaign, almost doubling the $26 million that President Joe Biden's campaign said it recently raised at an event with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.

"This has been some incredible evening before it even starts, because people, they wanted to contribute to a cause of making America great again, and that's what's happened," Trump told reporters as he arrived at the event with his wife.

"We're going to make America great again, everyone knows it."

But photos and videos of Melania Trump outside the event prompted some to suggest she was not too pleased to be there. A Trump spokesperson has been contacted for comment via email.

"Melania, who hasn't been seen in public for months, doesn't look very happy for someone who is gearing up to be First Lady again--a job we know she absolutely adored....," journalist Victoria Brownworth wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Ron Filipkowski, an attorney and the editor-in-chief of the liberal outlet Meidas Touch, wrote: "Melania looks like she's in a hostage video tonight. Blink twice if you need help."

Fred Wellman, the host of the On Democracy with FPWellman podcast, wrote: "Melania is checking the clock for the end of her shift."

The @TeaPainUSA account wrote: "Melania looks like she's dreading every minute spent with Donald Trump."

However, Trump supporters saw Melania Trump's appearance as an indication that she will play a greater role in his campaign.

"For all you leftists in the media asking, 'Where's Melania?' Well there's your answer...on the campaign trail raising nearly $51M dollars with the next President of the United States," one supporter wrote on X.

Melania has been frequently absent from the 2024 campaign trail, though she has attended some events at Mar-a-Lago. She also kept a low profile during Trump's 2020 campaign, despite played an active role in his successful 2016 campaign for the White House.

She is expected to hold her first major political event of the year when she appears at a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on April 20 for the Log Cabin Republicans.