At her husband’s first presidential inauguration in January 2017, Melania Trump was a newcomer to Washington, looking toned in baby blue cashmere to remind us of Jacqueline Kennedy. The first lady’s smile almost instantly melted into a frown. .
The years have clearly changed her.
Throughout her husband’s first term, Mrs. Trump remained physically and emotionally distant from the nation’s capital, choosing to focus on raising her son, Barron, and withdraw from the public eye.
While other family members, like Ivanka Trump, have spent years smiling broadly for the cameras and seeming to enjoy posting their travels (and high-status friends) on social media, , Mrs. Trump and her son remained closed-minded. But on Monday, the reinstated first lady and the son she once kept out of the public eye used Monday’s inauguration to introduce themselves.
One of the biggest changes happened before they set foot in the capital. Mrs. Trump, like the rest of her family, was more unapologetic than ever about the ethical concerns that dogged her family throughout President Trump’s first term. A woman who once abandoned her jewelry and skin care line has launched her own cryptocurrency. $MelaniaSo far, both Trumps have ignored the complaints.
Barron Trump is now treated by his father as an advisor and by his father’s supporters as a kind of MAGA mascot for the next generation. He encouraged his father to join his podcast during the campaign and encouraged the kinds of crypto projects his parents were involved in. When Trump launched his cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, in September, Barron Trump was named as the project’s “DeFi visionary,” which is known as a decentralized cryptocurrency. It refers to a field. Finance.
Eight years ago, Barron Trump was 11 years old and was seen smiling with his younger sister Tiffany during their father’s swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol. On Monday, Barron Trump was mostly by his mother’s side, but the change in him was clear.
During the ceremony, Barron Trump sat in the top position, smiling and applauding alongside billionaire Elon Musk, who is near the center of Trump’s advisory team. He shook hands with former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. as he left the Rotunda podium. He was also photographed speaking at a Congressional luncheon with Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Pete Hegseth, his father’s nominee for secretary of defense. He also had a lively conversation with billionaire Jeff Bezos, chairman of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post.
Barron Trump then received a hero’s welcome at a political rally at Capital One Arena in Washington. Every time his face appeared on the videoboard, the crowd responded with wild applause.
Mrs. Trump, on the other hand, omitted some of the considerations she insisted on as the next first lady in 2017. Unlike former President Michelle Obama, she did not arrive at the White House clutching a gift for her predecessor, Jill Biden. He was absent from this year’s inauguration ceremony. She and Dr. Biden greeted each other warmly, ignoring some of the disdain from past inaugurations. (The Trumps did not attend Biden’s ceremony.)
For Mrs. Trump, the final change from 2017 was visual, but just as important.
Wearing a navy double-breasted coat and wide-brimmed hat, Mrs. Trump is less interested in imitating her predecessor, as she did eight years ago when she sang a paean to Mrs. Kennedy. It seems so.
This time, she called out one of her own eye-catching ensembles. He wore a wide-brimmed hat during a state visit. At the time, her custom-designed white hat became the talk of the town, even though most of her face was kept out of the spotlight.
Mrs. Trump, a former model, has long urged people to pay attention to what she’s doing, not what she’s wearing, and she implicitly encourages those watching to do both. (On Monday, her navy hat seemed to have the added effect of physically distancing herself from her husband, who tried to kiss her on the cheek but was stopped by her large brim.)
Mrs. Trump has indicated from the beginning that Americans, or at least Washingtonians, will see her more than last time, as she intends to spend more time in Washington. Mrs. Trump delayed moving to Washington during her first term to allow her son to properly settle in and adjust.
Last week, she told Fox News that she plans to be in Washington regularly and spend time at her parents’ homes in New York and Palm Beach, Florida. Mrs. Trump also said she would continue to “Be Best.” She is a child-focused initiative started during President Trump’s first term.
Maggie Haberman and Maya C. Miller Contributed to the report.
