Melania Trump adjusts to role as First Lady

Melania+Trump%2C+escorted+by+a+U.S.+Marine%2C+walks+toward+the+platform+the+58th+Presidential+Inauguration+in+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+Jan.+20%2C+2017.+More+than+5%2C000+military+members+from+across+all+branches+of+the+armed+forces+of+the+United+States%2C+including+reserve+and+National+Guard+components%2C+provided+ceremonial+support+and+Defense+Support+of+Civil+Authorities+during+the+inaugural+period.+%28DoD+photo+by+U.S.+Air+Force+Staff+Sgt.+Marianique+Santos%29

Photo via Google Creative Commons

Melania Trump, escorted by a U.S. Marine, walks toward the platform the 58th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2017. More than 5,000 military members from across all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support and Defense Support of Civil Authorities during the inaugural period. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos)

Kezia Joseph, Staff Writer

Abigail Adams was known for being a quiet but strong pillar of women’s rights in her time as First Lady. Eleanor Roosevelt was a firm believer in equal rights for all races, which was an especially controversial view for a First Lady to have at the time. Michelle Obama was the First Lady known for her activism in schools and for being a strong advocate for healthy food and exercise for children. As America gets used to the new president, many Americans wonder how Melania Trump will fit into this group.

From the moment Donald Trump announced his presidency, Melania Trump remained largely silent and chose to stay mostly out of the picture during his campaign.

Melania Trump has shown quiet but firm support for almost everything her husband has said or done. Even after a tape was released with a recording of Donald Trump talking about sexually harassing women, she said in an interview that while she didn’t agree with him on that point, he had personally apologized to her and she had forgiven him for it.

Since Trump’s inauguration in January, Melania Trump has not made any clear strides to adapt to her role as First Lady. She continues to reside in Trump Tower instead of moving to the White House, which has an enormous security cost paid for by taxpayers. Costs to cover the Trump family’s security since the election until now has reached 24 million.

Melania Trump has remained very private. She has said that she wants to focus being a good mother to her son, Barron Trump, and wants to make sure he’s able to have a relatively normal life.

She has also chosen to take her time choosing staff for the White House, choosing the chief of staff in early February and the communications director just a few weeks ago.

Her FLOTUS Twitter account has had few posts since January, and she’s made only a few public appearances since the inauguration, including the International Women’s Day luncheon which she hosted and delivered an empowering speech about female activists at the International Women of Courage Award ceremony on March 29.

Melania Trump’s slow start as First Lady has caused a lot of speculation.

On one side, many consider her to be unfit for the role of First Lady of the United States. Americans wonder if her reluctance to make public appearances stem from being trapped in marriage, leading to #FreeMelania, as an often trending Twitter hashtag.

Others compare her to Jacqueline Kennedy, a former First Lady who mostly stayed on the sidelines during her husband’s presidency as Melania Trump seems to be doing, and commend her for wanting to be a present parent for her child.

Others commend her as a modern women, choosing to stay out of the traditional role as First Lady so that she can focus on what she wants.