Melania Trump Shines Solo: The Diplomatic Victory Over Ivanka
THE ROYAL RUMBLE: MELANIA TRUMP SHINES WITHOUT THE 'THORN IN HER SIDE'
As First Lady Melania Trump prepares to take center stage alongside her husband, President Donald Trump, on his historic second state visit to the United Kingdom, she's doing so without one notable absentee from her side. No, we're not talking about her stepchildren, Tiffany and Barron – although they will be joining them for parts of the trip. We're referring to Ivanka Trump, the president's elder daughter, who has all but dropped out of public life since leaving her role as a top White House advisor.
But what really makes this news juicy is that insiders close to Melania tell The Scholarly Note that she couldn't be happier about it. In fact, they say, "This is Peak Melania" – a time when the First Lady will shine without the constant drama and tension that came with having her stepdaughter-in-law by her side.
THE JAVANKA YEARS: A HISTORY OF DRAMA AND DISRESPECT
It all began in 2017 when Ivanka, Jared Kushner (her husband), and their entourage descended upon Washington D.C. to set up shop at the White House. The problem was that Melania, who had only recently settled into her role as First Lady after a tumultuous start, felt that Ivanka was muscling in on her territory.
"It's like they thought they were the royal family of America," recalls Stephanie Grisham, Melania's former White House chief of staff and press secretary. "They even went so far as to lobby for inclusion at a Buckingham Palace welcome ceremony – which would have been a clear breach of protocol."
Melania was reportedly furious, feeling that her husband's daughter had overstepped the mark in a big way. In fact, sources close to the First Lady claim she nicknamed Ivanka "The Princess" due to her behavior.
THE 2019 STATE VISIT: A CLASH OF EGOS
Fast forward to 2019 when Melania and Ivanka both joined their husbands on a state visit to the UK. The trip was marked by all sorts of drama – not least of which was the infamous photo of Ivanka and Jared peering out from behind a palace window as Marine One landed.
"It was like they were trying to steal the show," says Grisham, who claims that Melania's office was furious about the optics.
But things only got worse when it emerged that Ivanka had requested to rebrand the "Office of the First Lady" in the East Wing as the "Office of the First Family." The move was seen as a clear attempt to supplant Melania and assert her own authority within the White House.
MELANIA'S ROYAL RELATIONSHIPS: A DELICATE DANCE
Despite all the drama with Ivanka, Melania has always been known for her affection towards the British royal family. In fact, she's been a long-time admirer of Prince Charles – and the two have even exchanged letters since their first meeting at a tea in 2019.
When it comes to Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, Melanie has spoken highly of her warm and welcoming nature. And during their last visit together in 2019, Melania even shared an impromptu moment of laughter with both Kate and Camilla Parker Bowles as they navigated a sudden gust of wind at Buckingham Palace.
THIS TIME AROUND: MELANIA SHINES ON HER OWN
So what makes this trip so different? For one thing, there's no Javanka to steal the spotlight. And while Ivanka may still be a thorn in Melania's side, it seems she's no longer bothering to show up – at least not for the high-profile events.
As Grisham so astutely put it, "The stepchildren are gone." And with them, all the drama and tension that came with having Ivanka by her side.
This time around, it's all about Melania. The First Lady will be making several solo appearances throughout the trip – including a visit to Buckingham Palace with the Queen herself.
It's going to be a real showcase for Melania's style, elegance, and poise – without any of the distractions that came with having Ivanka around. So get ready for "Peak Melania" in all her glory!
