Melania and Ivanka Trump made a rare appearance at the Republican National Convention, showing support for Donald Trump’s presidental bid.
Entering the event in Milwaukee on Thursday night to a warm round of applause, the former president’s wife waved to the crowd before taking a seat in the family box.
Unlike previous Republican conventions in 2016 and 2020, she did not give a speech.
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She was joined by Mr Trump‘s eldest daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner, who have also been noticeably absent from the campaign trail, despite having held senior roles on Trump’s White House staff.
Bringing the convention to a close, Mr Trump’s extended family – including his children, grandchildren and wife – joined him on stage as balloons fell from the ceiling and younger members of the family batted them with their hands and feet.
Showing slight signs of affection, the former first lady was seen occasionally touching her husband’s arm and chatting with Mr Trump’s newly appointed pick for vice president, JD Vance.
The presence of the presidential nominee’s family comes as the Republican Party sought to portray him as a caring family man and selfless public servant who has been unfairly represented by Democratic opponents.
This image makeover – launched after the assassination attempt on Mr Trump’s last Saturday – was also carried over to the former president’s convention address, which partially focused on “unity” in the US and wanting to lead “for all of America, not half”.
Kicking-off his mammoth 90-minute long speech to the convention, Mr Trump thanked his support network, including his “amazing wife Melania”.
“Thank you, Melania, and thank you also for your beautiful letter to America calling for national unity,” he said, referring to the statement the former first lady issued after the attempt on her husband’s life.
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“I also want to thank my entire family – Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael, Barron, and of course, my 10 wonderful grandchildren,” Mr Trump added.
In the absence of Melania and Ivanka, Mr Trump’s teenage granddaughter, Kai Trump, 17, spoke about her “normal grandpa” at the convention on Wednesday night, and a grandchild sat on his knee as he listened to a parade of speakers praising him on Thursday.