Melania Trump hosts first major event of 2024 campaign: Former first lady to raise money for LGBT conservatives at glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraiser

Melania Trump returns to the campaign trail this month when she hosts a glitzy fundraiser for LGBT conservatives at Mar-a-Lago.

The former first lady will host Log Cabin Republicans at the event taking place April 20 at her Palm Beach home, according to an invitation obtained by Politics.

It will be a rare political appearance for Melania Trump, who stayed away from Donald Trump’s re-election bid.

She will also appear behind closed doors with him on Saturday evening at a huge fundraiser for his campaign, which is expected to raise $43 million. That event, taking place at Mar-a-Lago, is intended to counter President Joe Biden’s huge fundraiser in New York City with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

It is unclear what role Melania Trump will play in her husband’s campaign for a second term in the White House.

She has made just two formal public appearances for his campaign: at the kickoff in November 2022 and last month when she appeared with him to vote in Florida’s presidential primaries.

Afterwards she was asked when she would appear on the campaign trail again.

“Stay tuned,” she replied.

The April event marks the launch of the Log Cabin Republicans’ “Road to Victory” program, which targets voters in swing states.

Melania Trump has long ties to the group. In 2021, she was the special guest at a dinner the Log Cabin Republicans hosted at Mar-a-Lago, where she received an award.

As she accepted the honor, she said, “As I look around the room, the word ‘courage’ comes to mind. It is the courageous spirit in each of you that has brought us together tonight and it is the courageous spirit of Abraham Lincoln that gives us our guiding light today.”

In a financial disclosure last year, she reported receiving a $250,000 payment from the group in December 2022. That year, the group hosted an event at Mar-a-Lago, which she attended and where Donald Trump spoke.

Richard Grenell, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany and is openly gay, will also appear at the April 20 event.

Melania Trump had an event for Log Cabin Republicans at Mar-a-Lago in November 2021

Melania Trump appeared with son Barron (left) at Mar-a-Lago’s traditional Easter brunch last month

The former first lady remains popular among Trump’s MAGA supporters, but is somewhat of an enigma.

In the seven months of Donald Trump’s campaign, she has barely been visible.

Her most notable absence was on Super Tuesday, one of Donald Trump’s biggest nights of the election season. It marked the contest in which he essentially won the Republican nomination.

She did not appear at his victory event at Mar-a-Lago, even though most of his adult children were present.

She has been to a number of Mar-a-Lago events.

They and their son Barron were at Mar-a-Lago’s traditional Easter brunch. And last month she joined the former president as he hosted Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister.

Melania Trump accepted an award from Log Cabin Republicans in November 2021

Barron Trump, Viktor Knavs, Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the funeral of Melania’s mother Amalija Knavs in January

In November, Melania Trump appeared at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral, along with fellow first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton

She has also competed in some solo events of her own.

She spoke at a naturalization ceremony in Washington last December, where she discussed her own experiences becoming a U.S. citizen.

“My personal experience navigating the challenges of the immigration process has opened my eyes to the harsh realities that people face, including you who are trying to become a U.S. citizen,” she said.

She did not say that as president her husband supported harsh immigration policies, including overturning the same provisions that allowed Melania to become a citizen.

She attended a memorial service for Rosalynn Carter in November with other first ladies from both parties. It was the first time all living first ladies were in one place since George HW Bush’s funeral in 2018.

Melania Trump had a rough year in 2023.

She spent the last part of her time caring for her sick mother, Amalija Knavs. In January, she delivered the eulogy at her mother’s funeral.