Melania Trump has chosen the path of silence after husband Donald Trump’s arrest in Georgia, after which the former president was released on bail and had his mugshot published by the media.
Donald Trump was booked at Fulton County Jail on August 24th on over a dozen charges related to attempts to reverse the state of Georgia’s 2020 election results. Despite the intense media scrutiny major members of the Trump family—especially Melania—have all remained mum on the most recent updates in the case, with none coming out in public support of the patriarch since the official arrest. According to sources, Melania is simply maintaining the same posture she has had during all of her husband’s recent legal issues, which includes keeping mum.
Donald Trump Arrested On Election Felony Charges; Melania Not Present
Former president Donald Trump voluntarily turned himself in on the evening of August 24th at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, leaving on a $200,000 bond soon after taking his mug shot. The arrest was for felony charges stemming from the results of the 2020 election and a reported conspiracy to try to overturn them in the state of Georgia.
In an interview soon after the arrest with television network Newsmax, he detailed his experience being booked at Fulton County. "I came in, I was treated very nicely," Trump told host Greg Kelly. "But it is what it is. I took a mug shot. I never heard the words 'mug shot'; that wasn't—they didn't teach me that at the Wharton School of Finance." The former president added, "It’s a very sad experience, and it’s a very sad day. For me, this is a weaponized Justice Department."
Notably, no members of the Trump family, particularly the presidential candidate's wife Melania, were present at the arrest to show support for the Trump family patriarch. This led to media calls to the family members asking for their input on the complicated legal situation, with Newsweek writing, "Where is Melania?"
Source Says: '[Melania] Pays Only So Much Attention'
In response to questioning by People about why the former First Lady hadn't commented following the arrest, a source told the magazine that she has simply taken it all in stride. "Melania knows who her husband is, and while she deplores the indictments as much as her husband, she wouldn’t be surprised by his mug shot or make comments about it," the Trump family insider revealed, adding, "Melania does her best to duck the media and stay out of the issues surrounding this case and the others. It’s just one more issue to get beyond." Another source, speaking from experience in the New York-Palm Beach social set, agreed with the assessment. "Melania is busy with her son and family and she pays only so much attention to these issues which captivate the media. Of course these criminal charges are embarrassing to Melania and to Donald, but life goes on and each reacts to stress in different ways."
Melania is known to be quite focused on the raising of her 17-year-old son Barron, whom she shares with father Donald. "Remember, Melania is a mom with a not-yet-adult son to protect," another source said. "A mug shot that everyone is talking about is just one more issue to wade through...[the mug shot] does not upset her any more than anything else that has happened with Donald and his legal cases."
The insider added, "She also knows he loves to be the center of attention whether the subject is good or bad. He has been this way since the day she met him...Melania is good at taking care of business at hand which includes her own life, the life of her son, and the lives of her close family members. She would not stand in a circle of people she knows and openly comment on the lawsuits or the mug shot. She will have her way of dealing with this and anything else publicly when she feels like it."
However, the source stresses that though Melania hasn't commented publicly about the legal chaos, she does have very firm opinions about the merits of her husband's indictments. "Melania hates all of the legal problems but understands how her husband uses adversity to his advantage," they dished. "She knows the mug shot is sending both a 'f--- you' message to his enemies as well as a kiss to his flock."
As the indictments proceed and The Donald continues his 2024 re-election campaign, Melania is expected to keep her position firmly out of the spotlight.
