‘The whole squad’: Melania Trump conspicuously absent as family celebrates her husband’s election victory

A photo taken after Donald Trump’s election victory shows “the whole squad” that got him there. But one person is conspicuously absent.

“The whole squad.”

So said the caption of a post from Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, as she shared a photo of her family at Mar-a-Lago after his election victory.

At first glance, anyone who mattered appeared to be there. Tiffany Trump and her husband, Michael Boulos. Donald Jr. Kai herself. Mr Trump’s youngest son, Barron, towering above everyone, making his six-foot-three father look positively dwarven. Favourite daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Eric Trump and his wife, Republican National Committee chairwoman Lara Trump.

Elon Musk was also present, for some reason.

One person, though, was conspicuously absent: the former and now future first lady of the United States, Melania Trump.

Not part of “the whole squad”, apparently.

“No one works harder or cares more about the American people. Congratulations, Grandpa, I love you,” Kai wrote.

The photo posted by Kai Trump on social media.

Mrs Trump’s absence from the campaign trail was noted months ago, and she did little to quash the tittering from her husband’s critics. She did show up at the Republican National Convention in July, sitting in the crowd to listen to Mr Trump’s speech. And Mrs Trump appeared on stage with him on election night.

But she did not join him at his campaign rallies, or sit down for joint TV interviews, or do any of the usual events we expect, rightly or wrongly (let’s be honest: wrongly), to see from an American presidential candidate’s spouse.

Quietly, behind the scenes, she headlined a couple of lucrative fundraisers, though one of them, hosted by the conservative LGBTQ organisation the Log Cabin Republicans, was later revealed to have earnt her a pay cheque of well over $US200,000.

I imagine it is a little easier to contribute to your husband’s campaign efforts when, as compensation for a few hours’ hobnobbing, you receive more than four times your country’s median annual wage.

“She’s been so disconnected with this campaign and so absent that I could see her saying, ‘If I’m going to put my time in, I will get paid for this,’” Stephanie Grisham, Mr Trump’s former White House communications director and Mrs Trump’s former chief of staff, said at the time, reacting to the Log Cabin event.

“Even when we were in the White House, she was always so concerned about people making money off of her because she felt it was money she should be earning.”

Melania Trump with her husband on election night. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

Mrs Trump’s greatest contribution to the political discourse, this year, has been the publication of her memoir, simply titled Melania.

In the book, she argues in defence of abortion, saying it is “imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy” in making their own decisions, “free from any intervention” from the government.

“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” Mrs Trump writes.

“A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.

“Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.”

Those passages are in sharp contrast to her husband’s view on the matter, or at least to the results of his policies – Mr Trump’s position on abortion has evolved in politically convenient ways over the years.

His elevation of three new conservative justices to the US Supreme Court during his presidency, shifting its balance decisively to the right, enabled the court’s decision to overturn its longstanding ruling in Roe vs Wade, a landmark case that had underpinned abortion rights in the country for 50 years.

Strict abortion bans have since gone into effect across much of the nation, specifically in states governed by the Republicans.

Donald and Melania Trump. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

So there’s that. Mrs Trump also popped up, in September, to sell Christmas ornaments.

“Each unique piece captures the magic of the holiday season,” she said while unveiling “2024’s limited ornament series”.

“Let these ornaments inspire cherished memories and bring warmth to your entire family. Happy collecting!”

In promotional material for her book, she referred to the 2020 election, which her husband lost to Joe Biden.

“The 2020 election result changed our lives forever,” she said, referring both to her own family and the broader American public.

“It impacted our quality of life, cost of food, gasoline, safety, and even the geopolitical landscape.

“America is more divided today than ever before. It has become increasingly apparent that there are significant challenges to free speech, as demonstrated by the efforts to silence my husband.”

Mrs Trump also made public remarks defending her former modelling work, particularly images in which she posed naked.

“Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modelling work?” she said.

“The more pressing question is, why has the media chosen to scrutinise my celebration of the human form in a fashion photoshoot?

“Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body?

“Throughout history, master artists have revered the human shape, evoking profound emotions and admiration. We should honour our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self-expression.”

It remains to be seen how Mrs Trump will use her role as first lady, for the second time, to affect the lives of Americans.