Former US President Donald Trump and his wife attended a charitable event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. The couple’s relationship has been the subject of divorce rumours since the lead up to their White House departure this year.
For the rare appearance alongside Republican National Committee donors, Mrs Trump wore a $1,900 white dress by Giambattista Valli.
Videos uploaded to social media show the former First Lady walking behind the former President as they are greeted by an ovation from guests.
The couple looked relaxed as Mrs Trump linked arms with Mr Trump who, according to the Washington Post, went on to give an hour-long speech.
The appearance comes after an expert shared her belief that Mrs Trump has stayed married to Mr Trump because “there was more in it for her to stay than to go”.
Mary Jordan, author of ‘The Art of Her Deal: The untold story of Melania Trump’, told People magazine that Melania preferred to stick with her husband than to leave him during his presidency.
The author’s sources told her “over and over again” that “there was more in it for her to stay than to go”, she suggested.
Kate Andersen Brower, author of First Women, told People magazine that Ms Trump was “the most reluctant First Lady we’ve had in modern history”.
She added: “The First Lady is supposed to act as the ‘consoler in chief,’ especially when you’re married to a man who is so inept at consoling people and has a real empathy gap there.”
Last month, Mr Trump hinted that he may run for office in 2024 during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
In his first speech since US President Joe Biden took over the White House, Mr Trump told the CPAC audience that his wife Melania would be “the future first lady”.
Mr Trump said Mrs Trump “says hello” and “loves you as much as I love you”.
Last year, a former aide of Mr Trump, Omarosa Manigault Newman, told the Daily Mail: “Melania is counting every minute until he is out of office and she can divorce.”
Mrs Trump has also blasted the “media’s unhealthy obsession” with her after a report claimed the former First Lady has been spending much of her post-White House time in day spas.