First Lady Melania Trump canceled her campaign plans to join her husband, President Trump Tuesday evening at his Pennsylvania rally, citing an “abundance of caution” and a “lingering cough” since recovering from the coronavirus.
“Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from Covid-19, but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be traveling today,” First Lady’s Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham said.
Tuesday’s appearance was poised to be Melania’s first campaign rally event in more than a year. The last Trump rally Melania appeared happened 16 months ago when Trump officially launched his re-election bid in a kick-off rally in Orlando, Fl back in June of 2019.
The First Lady’s absence will almost certainly be a disappointment to the president, his campaign staff, and Trump supporters, who admire Melania and rarely accompanies her husband for his campaign rallies. She was not expected to give solo remarks at Tuesday’s Pennsylvania rally.
Melania was scheduled to headline a series of high-dollar fundraisers in April for her husband’s re-election effort. Those events were scrapped amid the coronavirus pandemic, and Melania opted not to participate in any virtual events as a substitute for in-person events.
Prior to her coronavirus diagnosis, Melania last public appearance was Sept. 29 for the first presidential debate in Ohio.
In 2016, with less than a week before the election, Melania made a campaign appearance in Berwyn, Pennsylvania alongside Second Lady Karen Pence where she gave a solo speech.
Last week, Melania penned a blog post on the White House’s website, detailing her experience with the virus, stating that she has now tested negative for the coronavirus and hoped “to resume my duties as soon as I can.”
This week, Ivanka Trump will have campaign events in Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida while her brothers, Eric Trump heads to New Hampshire and Michigan; and Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to hold events in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Eric’s wife, Lara Trump, Trump 2020 campaign advisor will host events at Nevada and Arizona.
Melania is expected to accompany the President to Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday for the final presidential debate against Biden ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Regarding future events, it is unknown at the moment of any upcoming appearance or campaign event Melania will partake during the last 15 days of the 2020 election calendar.
20202020 ElectionCoronavirusDonald Trump JrEric TrumpFirst LadyFLOTUSIvanka TrumpLara TrumpMelania TrumpPresident TrumpTrump RallyWhite House
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