Melania Trump looks stunning in her first appearance after three weeks, Trump laughs off rumors
On Monday evening, Melania Trump made her first public appearance after almost a month of escaping the media spotlight at a reception in the White House for Gold Star families.
The First Lady of the United States appeared well and hot to trot the event alongside her husband, President Donald Trump. Despite the White House said that no press coverage of the event would be allowed, several people captured her appearance on their cell phones.
Dress and six-inch black heels, keeping up her fashion quotient as always.
They further informed that Melania sat in the front row as the president spoke in the hour-long ceremony, although she did not speak at the event herself.
The former model looked "beautiful" and as "put together as she always does," said Diana Pike of Fox News, who hails from Phoenix, Arizona. She even said that Melania wore "crazy high black heels."
Melania said that it was a "privilege" to welcome the veteran families to the White House, in a statement on Monday night.
"It was a privilege to welcome Gold Star Families to the White House today to recognize our Nation’s fallen heroes and their families. To all those who have lost loved ones in service to our country, our nation grieves with you," she said.
"Thank you to those who joined us this evening and to the men and women currently serving overseas and to their families, thank you for your service. We send our prayers to all of those in harm's way, and may God bless the United States of America."
Ever since Melania went in for a kidney surgery on May 14, the internet has been rife with speculations about her whereabouts.
President Trump took the onus of refuting every speculation about the couple splitting up. Saying that it was a "no-go", Trump joked with his wife, "Isn't that right, honey?" while laughing off the rumors that caught Washington by storm.
Trump also revealed details about his wife's surgery and said she "had a little problem" a couple of weeks ago. However, the President said that she "wouldn't miss this event for anything," said Daily Caller reporter Jena Greene, who was in attendance as a Gold Star daughter.
The president's official schedule for the event, that came out Sunday night, had listed Melania's attendance.
However, the media weren't allowed inside to document the event as the reception was listed as closed to the press.
Since the event, Melania has shared three photos from the ceremony on her Twitter page. That being said, they could be the only insight into the private occasion if the White House decides against releasing further photographs.
The White House had held a similar reception last year to honor these military families. By definition, Gold Star families are those who have lost a loved one in a war.
Calling the event a "very emotional" ceremony, Roberta Lyons Nolan said that names of the deceased were read as a candle was lit for each one of them.
Having said that, it is uncertain as to when the first lady will make her next appearance after Monday night.
As of now, Melania is not scheduled to accompany her husband either to the G7 summit in Canada on Friday or the historic U.S. - North Korea summit that is to be held on June 12 in Singapore.
According to her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, the former Slovenian model will not be attending either of the international events.
"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Grisham said in a statement on Sunday evening.
Melania also did not join the Trump family on their trip to Camp David on Friday. The event was attended by Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Tiffany Trump.
A CNBC reporter tweeted last week: "Not that this will deter the conspiracy theorists, but I saw the First Lady walking with her aides in the West Wing yesterday afternoon."
The 48-year-old prodded the media for speculating about her whereabouts with a tweet on May 30.
"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!"
Many conspiracy theories were hatched due to the first lady's long absence from the public view. The White House had to swat down some outrageous claims, including one which held that she wasn't even in the White House anymore.
A source reported that Melania could not be seen in public primarily due to her mother, Amalija Knavs, who is suffering from an undisclosed illness, according to blog Showbiz411.
Another source told the gossip website, "She's taking care of her mother,' who is battling a pretty serious illness.
"They're all at Bedminster," the source said. "Melania, her parents, Barron when he's not in school. She's (Melania) not in the White House."
However, the blog's claims were struck down immediately by the office of the first lady, who said it was fake news.
"Everything about that blog is false and incorrect," Grisham clarified.