In a memorable moment at the 2024 Republican National Convention on July 18th, former First Lady Melania Trump made a dramatic entrance to the strains of classical music, drawing enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Breaking with a tradition that spans three decades, the Slovenian-American former model, 54, made her way directly to her seat, as reported by HuffPost.
Soon after this, many users on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media sites began criticizing the mom of one’s decision and behavior at the event.
Historically, the spouse of the presidential nominee has addressed the convention, a practice initiated by former First Lady Barbara Bush in 1992.
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Melania Trump Broke Tradition At The RNC By Not Addressing The Convention: X Users React
Melania had previously delivered speeches at the 2016 and 2020 conventions, with her inaugural speech garnering controversy for containing sections that were strikingly similar to a 2008 address by former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Shortly after Melania made her way to her seat without a word to the convention, X users flocked to social media to voice their opinions on her demeanor.
Many criticized her for appearing unwilling to be there and looking disengaged.
"She was paid for her appearance today and the speech will cost more," one wrote with a laughing emoji as another added: "Clearly wasn't paid enough to say a few words." Someone else chimed in: "Couldn’t find a speech to steal, huh?!"
An additional user quipped: "She had nothing good to say" as one replied: "She didn’t want to be there clearly."
In recent times, Melania has maintained a conspicuous absence from the public eye, even as her husband Donald, 78, captures the media’s attention with his ongoing campaign and contentious hush money trial.
"Of course she had nothing positive to say about her husband so why would she be allowed to speak there?" one user in a similar Instagram thread theorized as someone else claimed: "He embarrasses her and she hates him."
"That’s the face of a woman with a husband who has cheated on her countless times, that doesn’t care about her rights," one other user wrote after Melania's recent appearance as another added that her breaking tradition isn't surprising considering Donald's "entire administration and family is a break in tradition." They went on: "It’s a break with democracy. It’s a break with morals and ethics."
In her rare public outing, Melania was captured on camera the afternoon of July 18th at the RNC.
One notable snapshot featured her during a photo opportunity as her husband inked the official papers to secure his spot as the GOP's presidential nominee.
Interestingly, she remained absent from the VIP box for the first three days of the convention. In his acceptance speech for the GOP nomination, Donald paused to praise Melania, calling her an "incredible wife."
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The former president (who shares 18-year-old son Barron with Melania) expressed admiration for the extensive statement she released following the July 13th assassination attempt on him at a rally in Pennsylvania.
He gushed: "Melania, thank you very much, you also did something really beautiful, a letter to America calling for national unity, and it really took the Republican Party by surprise, I will tell you, it was beautiful."
The politician added: "In fact, some very serious people said we should take that letter and put it as part of the Republican platform. That would be an honor, right?"
