Melania Trump dazzled in a bright red Valentino dress Monday night as she hosted a political fundraiser in New York, while Donald Trump keeps a low profile following his debate with Joe Biden.
The former first lady stunned in a red coat dress and red patent leather So Kate Christian Louboutin pumps, as seen in exclusive photos obtained by Dailymail.com.
It was a rare appearance for Melania, who hosted an intimate group at Trump Tower to raise money for the Log Cabin Republicans, the largest conservative LGBTQ+ organization.
Her high-profile appearance came as her husband remained behind closed doors after the first presidential debate, where Joe Biden made such a poor impression that many Democrats called for him to withdraw from the race.
Melania Trump stunned in a red dress at a fundraiser in New York City
The former president did call Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night. And he’s active on his Truth Social account. On Tuesday night, he’s holding a rally at Trump Doral, his golf club in Miami.
But otherwise he disappeared from the national stage, with his advisers saying he stood empty-handed and watched the chaos among Democrats.
Meanwhile, Melania was in New York to hold her second fundraiser of the year for Log Cabin Republicans.
She opened the Trumps’ private penthouse for the event, a three-story home in Trump Tower.
Guests included former Trump White House official Kellyanne Conway, former Senator Kelly Loeffler and her husband Jeff Sprecher, businessman Bryan Eure and his husband Bill White, former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell and philanthropists Nazee and Joseph Moinian.
Grenell announced on X that the event raised $1.4 million.
‘.@MelaniaTrump opened her NYC Penthouse tonight to raise money for @LogCabinGOP. It’s the first campaign event ever held at Trump’s residence. And we raised $1.4 million in one night. Our goal is to get 50% of the gay vote for Donald Trump,’ Grenell wrote.
Charles Moran, the group’s head, called the evening an “astonishingly spectacular event.”
Kellyanne Conway was one of the guests at Melania’s fundraiser
The former first lady wore a $4,000 Valentino dress
Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell (center) with businessman Bryan Eure and his husband Bill White
For the occasion, Melania opted to re-wear a dress she had worn before. She first wore the sleeveless red crepe midi dress by Valentino, estimated at $4,000, in April 2017 when she and then-President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago.
Red is a lucky color in China.
The first event Melania hosted for Log Cabin Republicans took place in April at the Trumps’ Mar-a-Lago estate.
In her speech to the crowd at the time, she advocated ‘equality for all’.
Monday night saw a rare political appearance by the former first lady.
She did not attend the first presidential debate. She has yet to attend a political event for her husband this year — a stark contrast to Jill Biden, who frequently campaigns for Joe Biden and rushed to his side onstage after the debate.
Former Senator Kelly Loeffler and her husband Jeff Sprecher, Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange
Melania Trump has made few public appearances for her husband’s presidential campaign
Melania wore a red Valentino dress she originally wore in April 2017 when she and then-President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd from left) and his wife Peng Liyuan (left) at Mar-a-Lago
Melania Trump has rarely publicly expressed her support for her husband, who is seeking a second term in the White House.
She joined Trump when he announced his candidacy for president in 2024 last November, but otherwise appeared at only one fundraiser for his campaign and voted with her husband in the Florida primary.
“Stay tuned,” she told reporters when asked if she would campaign for Trump.
But it is unclear what she meant by that.
She was last seen in public in New York City in late June, when she left Trump Tower wearing a summer skirt and white shirt as she braved the heat.
Melania and Donald Trump were last seen together in public in May, at Barron’s high school graduation ceremony.