Four women are reportedly "competing to fill the vacuum" left by First Lady Melania Trump, whose limited political presence has drawn attention compared with predecessors like Michelle Obama and Laura Bush. Melania is said to rarely spend time at the White House, dividing her days between Florida and New York.
In a special episode of the Daily Beast podcast, host Joanna Coles and writer Nell Scovell discussed the four potential candidates, all from within the Trump family. Nell described Donald Trump as "Big Daddy" and noted that "nature abhors a vacuum," pointing to a "five-foot, 11-inch vacuum right next to Donald Trump."
Contenders to Fill the Void
Nell stated: "Today, we're going to look at the contenders to fill that void. They are Lara Trump, Kai Trump, Bettina Anderson Trump - the newest Trump - and Tiffany Trump. It's not just Donald who has an insatiable need for attention. Like, these women do, too. So right now there's a competition. There's like an arms race."
Lara Trump, 43, is married to Eric Trump and presents a Fox programme called "My View with Lara Trump." Joanna alleges Lara has sought roles in the US Senate "here, there and everywhere." Reportedly, Lara is the "most interested" in politics and had planned a 2022 Senate bid in North Carolina, but Donald wouldn't "give her his endorsement."
Kai, Bettina, and Tiffany
Kai Trump, 19, is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr and his former wife Vanessa. Known for golfing with her grandfather, she delivered a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention and is set to attend the University of Miami. Joanna described her as "very pretty" with "good vibes" with the audience.
Bettina Anderson Trump, recently married to Donald Trump Jr, is a socialite and model. Nell says she "came out of the gate hot" with a Father's Day post, describing it as a "beautiful reminder of what matters most...faith, family, love and legacy."
Tiffany Trump, 32, is Donald's fourth child with Marla Maples. She campaigned in 2016 and was "fully in the fold" by 2020. Nell suggests Tiffany is perceived "differently" from her siblings, lacking "Ivanka's chops" for public speaking.
Final Pick
Joanna asked Nell who the most likely contender to "replace" Melania might be. Nell responded: "For now, I would say Lara has the inside edge. The only problem is she's a little bit too thirsty. I think Bettina might be a little too smart. Tiffany, I don't see it." As for Kai, Nell says she's not interested in politics, but "we'll see about that."
