*NEW YORK: *Groomed to perfection yet rarely heard in public, Melania Trumpis an enigma — a first lady whose opinions, marriage and goals remain amystery to millions of Americans.
She is without question a unique first lady: a former model who once posednude in her husband’s private jet; the first foreign-born wife of a USpresident in nearly 200 years; and the first for whom English is a secondlanguage.
A year after channelling Jacqueline Kennedy in powder blue Ralph Lauren ather husband’s inauguration, Trump has yet to embrace a cause, as didMichelle Obama with her anti-obesity campaign or Laura Bush and herliteracy program.
For months, she stayed in New York, refusing to move to the White Houseuntil her young son Barron — of whom she is said to be fiercely protective– finished the school year.
She is infrequently seen in Washington and costing law enforcement tens ofthousands of dollars a day in protection.
“She is still an enigma after a year,” says Katherine Jellison, a professorof history at Ohio University who has researched US first ladies.
“I don’t think the American people feel that they know the real woman yet.”
Her campaign-era pledge to fight against cyber-bullying has never come tolight and saw her mercilessly criticized given her husband Donald’s ownreputation as something of a Twitter bully.
As the 47-year-old wife of a 71-year-old man known for past lewd remarksabout women, and who divorced his two previous wives in a blaze of tabloidpublicity, she is dogged by speculation that they lead largely separatelives.
*’Air of mystery’*
An explosive account about life in the White House alleged that she criedon election night and that even in Trump Tower, the couple spent “days at atime without contact.”
A Gallup poll in December said Melania Trump was viewed favourably by 54per cent of Americans (AFP)”People are still trying to figure out the relationship between thepresident and the first lady, and I think those kind of questions feed intothe air of mystery,” said Jellison.
Unlike the Harvard-educated Obama, Trump makes few public speeches –perhaps not surprising after her address at the Republican NationalConvention in 2016 exploded into a plagiarism row, and given that she hasbeen lampooned for her strong Slovenian accent.
A devoted mother, her most direct communication is a carefully curatedsocial media profile: photographs of herself impeccably groomed, ofteninteracting with young children, or messages of comfort in times ofnational tragedy.
That could not be more different from the articulate, ever-present Obama,the Afghanistan-visiting Bush or the politically engaged, if unpopular,Hillary Clinton.
“To find a first lady as enigmatic as Melania Trump, we have to go back tothe late ’40s and early ’50s,” said Jellison. In particular, she cites BessTruman, wife of Harry and first lady from 1945 to 1953.
But last week, Trump added three new people to her East Wing staff,including a director of policy who worked formerly in the National SecurityCouncil’s Middle East Directorate and at Facebook.
“I am confident they will enhance my work on behalf of children everywhere,while helping me further expand my role,” she said.
Her office says she intends to announce a signature initiative “in thecoming months,” with a focus on “the overall well-being of children.”
“Mrs Trump continues to be focused on her roles as mother, wife and firstlady… while remaining an independent woman who stays true to herself,”said a spokeswoman.
*’Like Diana’*
She has accompanied her husband on tours to the Middle East and Asia, whereshe was photographed in dazzling clothes, many of them European, afterseveral US designers refused to dress her in opposition to her husband’spolitics.
Melania Trump is significantly more popular than her husband, according tothe results of a Gallup poll (AFP)Her style may not be considered accessible but it has won admiration,despite back-biting over her decision to wear stilettos when heading tostorm-ravaged Texas. She changed into sneakers before disembarking.
A Gallup poll in December said she was viewed favorably by 54 percent ofAmericans, up 17 points from January — she is significantly more popularthan her husband.
“She is doing an amazing job,” enthuses Paolo Zampolli, a long-time friendwho says he celebrated the New Year with the Trumps in Florida.
“The world did not make it easy for her,” he said, insisting she is happy.”She wants to do a great job and she will.”
Trump grew up in then communist-run Yugoslavia and is said to be fiercelyprivate. Even in New York, she eschewed much of the high-profile charityendeavors and socializing beloved of other billionaire wives.
No other first lady has not first been through the training of being anelected politician’s wife at a lower level.
“The fact that she has not made huge mistakes in this arena is a hugeaccomplishment,” says Jeanne Zaino, a political science professor at IonaCollege.
“Like Princess Diana, she may find her voice… she may surprise people.” -AFP