Melania Trump Loves the Mysterious Narrative About Her: Ex-Aide

Melania Trump used her silence as "armor" and said her "intentional lack of communication" with the media would keep people guessing and help maintain the "narrative of being mysterious and an enigma," a former aide and spokesperson says.

In a Friday story, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff told The Washington Post that the former first lady's silence was "a way to protect her by not letting anyone fully know who she is."

Melania has been noticeably absent during Donald Trump's multiple court appearances and recent campaign stops. Her whereabouts were even a source of questions by news anchor Megyn Kelly, who sat down with the former president in a September interview.

Melania did make an appearance at a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's Palm Beach, Florida, estate, in October. She was photographed at the party alongside her husband in their first public appearance together in seven months. The couple were last seen together having lunch at the Florida property.

Winston Wolkoff also said Melania had an "ongoing pre-approved list" of words used to describe herself. The list included words like "confident," "strong" and "independent."

In the interview with Kelly, Donald Trump said, "I think part of the beauty is that mystery," when asked about Melania's whereabouts.

Stephanie Grisham, Melania's former chief of staff, said she "admired" Melania's ability to do what she wanted, saying in the Post article that "she was pretty much the only person I've ever seen who he [Donald] kind of bows down to."

Reached for comment, Trump's campaign told Newsweek, "There will always be those who seek relevance and financial gain by inserting themselves into stories. Mrs. Trump has always been and will always be focused on her family, as it is her number one priority. Any reports claiming to have insight into her life should be read with caution."

Asked if Melania's silence negatively or positively affects Donald's 2024 campaign for president, political analyst D. Stephen Voss told Newsweek on Friday, "Family members can pull up or pull down a national politician, as we've seen with presidential family members over the last few decades."

Voss continued: "Presidential wives usually end up being an asset, but first lady Melania Trump followed the president out of office with relatively low approval ratings. For Melania to stand by Trump's side would be unlikely to hurt, but it also might not help much.

"Trump ought to worry that the public will perceive his family's low visibility as a sign they're fleeing a sinking ship. If even Trump's family has started to view him as a liability best avoided, it gives Republican politicians more opportunity to distance themselves as well," Voss said.

Political analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek on Friday, "As an observer of elections, it's interesting to consider the impact of Melania Trump's rare public appearances on the campaign. In one sense, her relative silence and infrequent appearances add an element of mystique and may appeal to voters who favor a more traditional, less publicly engaged role for the spouse of a political figure."

Agranoff continued: "It allows the focus to remain more directly on the policies and messages of the campaign itself. On the other hand, in an era where visibility often equates to accessibility and relatability, this approach might be perceived as a missed opportunity to connect with a broader audience."

He said that the public often looks to the spouse of a political figure for "insights into their personal side, humanizing the candidate. Melania's limited public engagement could be seen as a detachment from the campaign and the issues at hand, which may not resonate with some segments of the electorate who value a more active and vocal presence."