Former First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron were spotted this week leaving Trump Tower carrying suitcases, sparking speculation among supporters and critics alike about their destination and purpose for travel. The New York Post obtained a video showing Melania Trump, wife of former President Donald Trump, carrying a single bag while wearing a light brown jumpsuit. Her 18-year-old son Barron appeared alongside her in a crisp blue suit and white shirt, with both boarding a waiting dark SUV before departing for an undisclosed location. The Post’s report also noted that the vehicles contained at least seven Louis Vuitton luggage pieces and multiple garments bearing Barron’s initials.
Rumors circulated that the trip was a brief visit to the Trumps’ residence in Bedminster, New Jersey. This would provide Melania with a break from home confinement since her husband’s conviction on 34 felony counts in his Manhattan trial. Barron, who recently graduated from high school and is set to begin college in the fall, will spend the summer participating in his father’s campaign, starting next month at the Republican National Convention.
In a recent interview with Fox & Friends, former President Trump discussed how the trials have been “very hard” on Melania and their family. He acknowledged that “it’s tougher, I think it’s probably in many ways, it’s tougher on my family than it is on me.” The situation has become more complicated for Melania, as she recently received unwelcome advice from Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress involved in the hush money scandal.
Daniels suggested that Melania should leave her husband, citing “that he’s a convicted felon. That he’s proven to be abusive. He was found liable for assault,” she said, referencing the case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. In Carroll’s case, Trump was found liable for sexual assault following her allegations that he raped her in a New York department store in the 1990s, though she could not remember key details, including an accurate timeline during the trial. Also, there were questions as to why she waited for decades to make her claim.
Melania’s most recent public sighting is thought to have been at Barron’s graduation from a Florida preparatory school in May. Alongside her husband, she watched from the stands as their 6’7” son received his diploma before moving on to a university that the family has yet to announce.
Polling data indicates that Melania is a significant asset to Trump on the campaign trail, with voters holding a more favorable opinion of her than Jill Biden. She has hinted at the possibility of her imminent return to his side. At a rally following the hush money verdict, Trump vowed to fight it on appeal while also noting how the entire situation has been rough on his family.
The former president said he was honored by the support he has received via donations to his campaign after the verdict and that he intends to continue fighting for justice in this matter. We’re going to fight,” he said, emphasizing his determination to persevere despite the personal toll it is taking on his family.
