Melania Trump Reportedly Made a Calculated Decision About Attending Rosalynn Carter's Memorial

Kristyn Burtt
·2 min read
2.8k
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.

Melania Trump seems to know very well that any time she steps out in public it’s going to draw attention. In her post-White House years, the former first lady has preferred to hide herself behind Mar-a-Lago walls instead of writing her memoir and pursuing public speaking engagements. That’s why her attendance at Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service made such waves.

More from SheKnows

It may have seemed like a given that all of the living first ladies honor Rosalynn after her death on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, but Melania reportedly weighed out her options before sending along her RSVP. CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes explained on Tuesday that Melania “has taken a very different and untraditional approach to being a former first lady” since she departed from Washington, D.C. “She is not out there, she is not giving speeches, talking about her initiatives. She is really behind closed doors. And that is the way that I am told she likes it,” she added.

And even though it was Rosalynn, who extended the invite to Melania to attend her services ahead of her death, the former first lady mulled over whether it was in her best interest to attend. “But today, she is taking part in a very traditional act, which is joining the other former and current first lady as part of this tribute to Rosalynn Carter,” Holmes shared. “And I’m told that, in part, this decision was made by her because she didn’t want to draw attention to herself, that she knew that all of the other former first ladies were going to be there and that it would become more of a thing if she didn’t attend.”

Buy Now 'Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady' $14.38

Melania chose to be present for Rosalynn and it certainly wasn’t a quiet appearance because social media dropped their thoughts about her wardrobe choice. (Spoiler alert: Her gray tweed jacket aligns with traditional funeral wardrobe guidelines.) But the former first lady took her place next to Michelle Obama and honored Rosalynn’s legacy which was the right thing to do.

Before you go, click here to see which US presidents have done tree lighting ceremonies over the years:

Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.