Melania Trump stuns in $2k dress as she makes rare appearance

Melania Trump has donned a $2000 gown as she stepped out for a rare appearance with her husband Donald Trump since the couple left the White House.

Melania Trump stunned in a $2000 gown as she stepped out with her husband, former president Donald Trump, in a rare appearance since the couple moved out of the White House.

The former first lady attended a fundraising event for the Republican National Committee on Saturday hosted by Mr Trump at the couple’s Florida Mar-a-Lago resort.

The 50-year-old wore $US1900 ($A2500) white dress by Giambattista Valli and smiled as she greeted guests.

This is only the sixth time Ms Trump has been seen at an event since she left Washington D.C. following Mr Trump’s election loss.

She has kept a low profile since moving back to Florida, refusing to stop for photographers and rarely steps out in public.

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Former president Donald Trump arrives with Melania at an event for Republican National Committee donors. Picture: firstfamilytrumps_/Instagram

Melania Trump donned a $2000 white Giambattista Valli gown for the occasion. Picture: firstfamilytrumps_/Instagram

During the Republican National Committee event, Mr Trump spent much of his address lashing out at other Republicans and reiterating false claims the 2020 election was stolen from him.

The former president called Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell a “dumb son of a b**ch” and a “stone cold loser”, according to The Washington Post.

Mr Trump blamed the Senator for not fighting to overturn Joe Biden’s election win.

Senator McConnell has also declared that the former president was “practically and morally responsible” for the deadly attack on the Capitol building by a mob of violent Trump supporters on January 6.

The former president also criticised Senator McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who was Mr Trump’s transportation secretary but resigned following the events of January 6.

“I hired his wife. Did he ever say thank you?” he said, before mocking Ms Chao for resigning.

Mr Trump then turned on his own former vice president Mike Pence, saying he was “disappointed” in his role in certifying the election result.

“I wish that Mike Pence had the courage to send it back to the legislatures. I like him so much. I was so disappointed,” the 74-year-old said on Saturday.

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Mr Trump took particular aim at Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell during his speech on Saturday night. Picture: Kevin Dietsch/AFP

Mr Trump also attacked top US scientist Anthony Fauci, saying the epidemiologist is “full of crap”.

Without mentioning the more than 560,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19, Mr Trump praised Republicans such as Florida governor Ron DeSantis for reopening their states early, in defiance of experts’ advice.

While on the topic of COVID-19, Mr Trump also claimed the vaccine should be called the “Trumpcine” as a tribute to his handling of the pandemic.

Apparently seeing this fundraising event as the perfect time to air all past grievances, the 76-year-old also reprised an attack he used during his 2015 campaign on immigrants illegally crossing the border, labelling them “murderers, rapists and drug dealers”.

“They’re coming in from the Middle East. They’re not sending their best people. You have murderers, you have rapists, you have drug dealers,” he said.

Some Republicans had previously said they hoped the Mar-a-Lago meeting would be more focused on the party’s path forward.

Mr Trump didn’t directly address any plans he had for a 2024 presidential run, other than to express his confidence that a Republican nominee will win.

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Donald Trump and Melania arrive at Palm Beach International Airport after leaving the White House. Picture: Alex Edelman/AFP

The fact that Mr Trump glossed over the 2024 election has left many wondering whether he has abandoned plans for a re-election bid.

Earlier this year, there were reports that Mr Trump had set up a “war room” in his Florida estate where he was said to be plotting his return and his revenge on those who turned against him.

Sources close to the former president have told media outlets in the US that even when he’s cruising around the course near to his Mar-a-Lago pad he is making and taking calls from his allies and aides in the political world.

Multiple people familiar with Mr Trump’s current habits told CNN that after he finishes up on the course, the serious work begins – when he retreats, alone, into his quarters to his own private living space.

Those sources said that when Mr Trump is alone inside his “war room” he is plotting towards his ultimate goal – to return to power in 2024.

Another option is to thrust either Ivanka or Donald Trump Jr into the spotlight to take his place.

Other sources told Politico that Mr Trump was planning to vet candidates at Mar-a-Lago who are eager to fulfil his promise to exact vengeance upon incumbent Republicans who’ve scorned him, and to ensure every open Republican seat in the 2022 midterms has a MAGA-approved contender vying for it.

– With Ben Graham

Originally published as Melania Trump stuns in $2k dress as she makes rare appearance