Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump made a rare appearance at the Republican National Convention on Thursday in support of former President Donald Trump's third bid for president. Both former first lady Melania and the former president's eldest daughter Ivanka have been less visible on the campaign trail this year compared to Trump's previous campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
Although neither Melania nor Ivanka gave speeches at the convention, Melania's presence served to showcase unity within the Republican Party, particularly following a recent incident targeting Trump. Melania's call for Americans to rise above hate and violence resonated with the audience.
While Melania Trump took a backseat this year, other speakers shared heartwarming anecdotes to humanize Trump, including his granddaughter Kai Trump, who described him as a 'normal grandfather.'
After Trump officially accepted the GOP nomination, his family, excluding Melania, entered the arena and stood through a lively speech by wrestler Hulk Hogan. Melania later joined the family, smiling and waving to the crowd as she took her seat next to vice presidential nominee JD Vance.
During his speech, Trump expressed gratitude for Melania's statement on unity and later welcomed her on stage, where she surprised him by whispering in his ear. The Trump family gathered on stage as balloons fell from the ceiling, a convention tradition.
Throughout the 20-minute stage appearance, Melania Trump stood by her husband's side, displaying quiet affection and engaging in conversations with others on stage. Trump's other children, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump, also participated in the convention, with some delivering speeches to delegates.
While Melania has skipped certain campaign events and legal proceedings involving her husband, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who held senior roles in the Trump administration, did not attend Trump's announcement of his 2022 presidential campaign.
In a statement, Ivanka expressed continued love and support for her father but indicated her intention to step back from the political arena moving forward.
