Melania Trump has been conspicuously absent during the election campaign. Photo / Getty
In a US election campaign trail already punctuated with bizarre details, First Lady Melania Trump has rarely appeared by her husband's side, and the clock is ticking as election day draws near.
In a stark contrast to other modern first ladies who have served a crucial role in engaging female voters in the US over the years, Melania has taken a deliberate step back, with sources close to the White House explaining it simply as her "doing what she wants".
Her latest absence comes after a Covid-recovered President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail following his controversial virus remarks last week, with a flurry of appearances across the country.
In many corners of the US, members of the Trump family including daughters Tiffany and Ivanka followed suit, fanning out to their own events to spread support for their father.
Melania, meanwhile, has avoided the frenzy, but not for lack of trying on the President or his campaign team's behalf, it seems.
On Tuesday, in a rare occurrence for the First Lady, Melania was scheduled to attend her first rally in over a year while accompanying her husband to Pennsylvania.
Just hours before the trip, however, she pulled out, with her office revealing she would not be able to travel due to a "lingering cough" from her bout with coronavirus.
"Mrs Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from Covid-19, but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be travelling today," her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham told NBC News in a statement.
It came as a close reminder for the President that, as much as he said he wishes the virus would "just disappear", it remains a powerful presence.
Melania has held a very limited public role as First Lady for much of this year — and much of her time in the White House — staying away from the political events the President has dedicated most of his time to in the lead-up to the election.
A source who knows the First Lady told CNN she is merely doing what she does best: whatever she feels like.
"It is who she is," says the friend.
"She does what she wants, when she wants … She can be a contrarian," another former White House staffer weighed-in, according to the publication.
Another White House official tersely knocked back criticism, revealing her downtime is wholly due to her recent illness.
"I'm not sure why she's being criticised for taking care of herself and her son when they both tested positive for coronavirus," they said.
Melania last appeared in public for the September 29 debate in Cleveland between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Two days later, she and the President tested positive for coronavirus, with Melania announcing in a blog post last week that she had since returned a negative test.
COVID BATTLE
Just a week ago, Melania published a candid account of her struggle with the virus on the official White House website, revealing her 14-year-old son Barron had also been infected.
"Luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms. In one way I was glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together. He has since tested negative," she wrote.
"I was very fortunate as my diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, though they hit me all at once and it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after. I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time.
"I chose to go a more natural route in terms of medicine, opting more for vitamins and healthy food. We had wonderful caretakers around us and we will be forever grateful for the medical care and professional discretion we received from Dr Conley (the White House physician) and his team.
"It was an unfamiliar feeling for me to be the patient instead of a person trying to encourage our nation to stay healthy and safe. It was me being taken care of now, and getting first-hand experience with all that Covid-19 can do.
"As the patient, and the person benefiting from so much medical support, I found myself even more grateful and in awe of caretakers and first responders everywhere. To the medical staff and the residence staff who have been taking care of our family – thank you doesn't say enough."
Melania Trump said her recovery from the illness had given her "a lot of time to reflect".
"When my husband was taken to Walter Reed as a precaution, I spent much of my time reflecting on my family. I also thought about the hundreds of thousands of people across our country who have been impacted by this illness that infects people with no discrimination. We are in unprecedented times – and with the election fast approaching, it has been easy to get caught up in so much negative energy," she explained.
"It also cheered me to think of all the people I have met across our country and the world, and the goodness and compassion that exists if you seek it out.
"Our country has overcome many hardships and much adversity, and it is my hope Covid-19 will be another obstacle we will be able to tell future generations we overcame, and learned from in the process."
The First Lady encouraged Americans to "live the healthiest life they can".
"A balanced diet, fresh air, and vitamins really are vital to keep our bodies healthy. For your complete wellbeing, compassion and humility are just as important in keeping our minds strong," Melania said.
"For me personally, the most impactful part of my recovery was the opportunity to reflect on many things – family, friendships, my work, and staying true to who you are.
"I am happy to report that I have tested negative and hope to resume my duties as soon as I can. Along with this good news, I want people to know that I understand just how fortunate my family is to have received the kind of care that we did.
"If you are sick, or if you have a loved one who is sick, I am thinking of you and will be thinking of you every day. I pray for our country and I pray for everyone who is grappling with Covid-19 and any other illnesses or challenges.
"Thank you to everyone who reached out, and offered well wishes and prayers for our family. You remain in ours as well."
PAST POLITICAL PRESENCE
Looking back to 2016's US election, Melania Trump's participation was just as lax.
Back then, however, she had an excuse.
Her priority was caring for her then-10-year-old son Barron. It passed as a reason, and there was little more question as to why she did not make speeches or headline fundraisers.
Commentators, however, struggled not to draw comparison to Michelle Obama, who was a huge part of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign trail, travelling on buses to different states to speak to voters and constantly bouncing back and forth between the campaign tour and being at home with her daughters in Chicago.
As for Melania, the occasional, nonchalant wave at a Trump rally became the norm.
A source who worked on the campaign at the time revealed she would flatly refuse to be involved.
"The answer to us asking her to make appearances was 'no' so many times, we eventually just stopped asking," the source said, according to CNN.
Furthermore – during her time as First Lady, Melania has not done a single solo magazine interview with an American publication, and her last significant television interview was more than two years ago.
MEMORABLE COVID SPEECH
While Melania has not been a frequent presence at political events in recent months, she did deliver a well-received speech singing the President's praises during the Republican National Convention in August.
In it — in an interesting twist — she became the first speaker of the convention to acknowledge the coronavirus death toll, expressing sympathy for the virus's victims.
"It seems like just yesterday that we were at our first convention," Melania said.
"Yet the energy and enthusiasm for who should lead this nation is as real today as it was four years ago.
"I know I speak for my husband and the entire family when I say we have not forgotten the incredible people who were willing to take a chance on a businessman who had never worked in politics. We know it was you who elected him.
"It is you who will carry us through again. We were humbled by the incredible support then, and we are still grateful today."
She went on: "I want to acknowledge the fact that, since March, our lives have changed drastically. The invisible enemy, Covid-19, swept across our beautiful country and impacted all of us.
"My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one, and my prayers are with those who are ill or suffering.
"I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I want you to know you are not alone. My husband's administration will not stop fighting until there is an effective treatment or vaccine available to everyone. Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this pandemic."
She also thanked all the healthcare workers, frontline workers and teachers who "stepped up" despite the risk to themselves.
"My husband and I are grateful," she said.
Following her address, this painfully awkward moment occurred:
Tell me that Melania didn’t just totally avoid Trump’s kiss right there after her speech. pic.twitter.com/lOHvvwhPFl
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) August 26, 2020
With the election less than two weeks away, it's unlikely the First Lady will end up participating again in any significant way.
She is, however, set accompany the President to Nashville for the final presidential debate today.
It is the last big event before polling day on November 3, and the final time that Trump and Biden will clash face-to-face until we find out which one has been elected president.
The average age of patients in the study was just 38, highlighting risks for younger adults.