US President Donald Trump is in China for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, but First Lady Melania Trump was nowhere to be seen, sparking speculation about her absence from the trip.
Melania's Commitment to Home Front
First Lady Melania Trump did not join President Trump on his high-stakes visit to China, as she remains committed to her duties prioritising "America's families and children" back home in the United States, a source told NBC News. Melania's absence from the US delegation during the President's meeting with his Chinese counterpart has sparked curiosity and left many wondering about her whereabouts.
Although she accompanied her husband on his 2017 trip to China, this time the US President travels with a number of senior US officials and several high-profile CEOs instead. Meanwhile, the First Lady stayed in Washington DC to mark the 180-day milestone since her husband signed the Fostering the Future Executive Order, an order that honours one of her flagship initiatives to support children in state care.
Planned Absence and Future Role
A source close to the trip told the Washington Post that the First Lady was never scheduled to attend, even before it was delayed from its original date due to the US conflict in Iran. "The First Lady has prioritised America's families and children in her initiatives here at home and is focused on these responsibilities at the present time," the source said.
She will, however, be on hand to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the White House in September when the pair make a reciprocal visit to the US.
Controversial Delegation Member
Melania documentary director Brett Ratner joined the US President on his China trip as part of the delegation, raising eyebrows. A source told the Post that the First Lady was unaware that the director would be travelling on Air Force One to Beijing. Ratner, 57, joins a host of business associates who accompanied Trump, including outgoing Apple chief Tim Cook and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Ratner—who had not worked in Hollywood since 2017 after being accused of sexual misconduct by six women—made his comeback by co-producing Melania's documentary, which was purchased by Amazon for $75 million. The film follows Melania during the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration as she prepared to resume her role as First Lady.
Other Notable Attendees
Also present on the 2026 China tour are Trump's son Eric and his daughter-in-law Lara. Lara recently shared a photograph featuring several members of the delegation, including a woman many might not immediately recognise: Natalie Harp, Trump's executive assistant. According to the Wall Street Journal, she is the driving force behind Trump's posts on Truth Social and sometimes publishes the content. During a flurry on Monday, his account churned out 17 posts within a single hour, including reshares from supporters lauding him as the "greatest president ever." In total, the account published 55 messages between 10.14pm and 1.12am.
