Scheduled for the middle of next week in Dallas, the event designed to project party unity going into election season will be missing a well-known figure.
Read more Maria Bartiromo’s attorney denies reports she was fired from Fox News
First lady Melania Trump does not plan to attend the Republican Party’s midterm convention next week, a White House official confirmed Friday afternoon.
The unusual gathering, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Dallas, is an attempt by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party to highlight what the White House has described as the administration’s accomplishments during its first 19 months — and to rally Republicans as they confront significant electoral headwinds.
Trump is expected to address the convention on both nights. Vice President JD Vance and other Republican leaders are also scheduled to participate.
The first lady’s absence deprives Trump of one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable figures at an event designed to project Republican unity as his approval rating hovers in the mid thirties, at or near historic lows for a president facing a midterm election.
The White House and party officials have acknowledged that some Republican lawmakers and candidates will stay home, particularly those locked in competitive races.
Read more Prosecutors will not seek to hold ICE agent charged with lying about Minneapolis shooting
Vance on Thursday told reporters he was not concerned about attendance.
“When you’re running a congressional race, especially in a very tight race, you have so many things that are local that you’re focused on,” Vance said. “You’ve got fundraising, you’ve got money you’ve got to raise, you’ve got staff that you’ve got to deal with and obviously give directives to.”
“And then most importantly, you’ve got to go out there and meet voters and message to voters,” he added.
Melania Trump has generally kept a lower political profile than her husband and has appeared only sporadically at campaign and party events. During Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, she was largely absent from the campaign trail and made a rare, closely watched appearance on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. She did not address the delegates.
Since returning to the White House, the first lady has continued to maintain a relatively limited public schedule while participating in select official events and promoting initiatives of her own.
Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.
Read more Diesel hits record $5.85 a gallon as Iran war drags on
