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Former first lady Melania Trump was missing from the family Christmas card photo this year for a heartbreaking reason, according to reports.
The former first family shared a photo from their festivities, featuring former President Donald Trump alongside his children Don Jr., Ivanka, and Tiffany, with their respective spouses. Barron Trump was also seen standing tall above the rest, along with several of the former president’s grandchildren. Melania’s absence was noticeable, leading to speculation about her whereabouts on social media.
According to sources who spoke to Page Six, Melania has been caring for her sick mother, Amalija Knavs, who was in the hospital with her daughter at her side when the family photo was taken.
“Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family,” a source close to Melania explained to Fox News Digital. “It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother.”
Page Six added: Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, shared the image in question, which was taken at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., to her Instagram Story Tuesday.
The picture includes Trump Jr., Donald Trump, Guilfoyle, Barron Trump, Ivanka Trump, husband Jared Kushner and their kids, Tiffany Trump and husband Michael Boulos. Looking all grown up, 17-year-old Barron can be seen towering in front of the Christmas tree and behind his father.
Earlier this week, the outlet reported that Melania will be making many more public appearances on behalf of her husband as he campaigns a third time for a second term in the White House.
A source told Page Six that after the former president won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court last week, in which justices rejected special counsel Jack Smith’s attempt to get a quick ruling on presidential immunity, “Trump and his family are so secure that he will become president again that insiders at Mar-a-Lago say he’s reached an agreement with [wife] Melania [Trump] to step up top-tier diplomatic appearances in 2024.”
The source went on to say that after Melania appeared with other first ladies at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral recently, she is “feeling more sure of herself — as both her husband’s representative and her own position as a diplomatic figure after her positive reception at the Carter funeral.”
She also recently spoke at a citizenship naturalization ceremony at the National Archives.
“Melania realizes it’s her time to join the ranks of historic first ladies and leave her mark on history… She feels better prepared for her potential role the second time around,” the source told Page Six. “The immediate family, including Melania, is solidly behind the former president.”
Page Six also reported that another source said that Melania showed up at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach for a Patriot Awards ceremony.
“They were both in great moods,” the source said of the former first couple. “Melania was going around greeting everyone.”
Page Six added: “We hear the Donald gave a speech at the Helping A Hero event to raise money for military vets, and was even joking about his classified documents case.”
Melania has openly supported her husband’s third White House bid, but she has also “quietly” taken measures to protect herself and their son, Barron, behind the scenes, a report noted in September.
According to sources who spoke to Page Six, she “renegotiated her prenuptial agreement with Donald Trump in advance of his potentially serving a second term in the White House. Over the last year, Melania and her team have been quietly negotiating a new ‘postnup’ agreement between herself and Donald Trump.”
The source added that she “renegotiated her prenuptial agreement with Donald Trump in advance of his potentially serving a second term in the White House. Over the last year, Melania and her team have been quietly negotiating a new ‘postnup’ agreement between herself and Donald Trump.”
“This is at least the third time Melania has renegotiated the terms of her marital agreement,” the source said while adding that it is not because she plans on leaving him.