Melania Trump recently appeared alongside her husband, Donald Trump, at a formal dinner party held in Mar-a-Lago, where the ex-president played host to autocratic Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The former first lady’s outing comes after an outcry from MAGA supporters over her absence from the Trump campaign trail. There were speculations over Melania’s whereabouts due to her being conspicuously absent during her husband’s victory speech on Super Tuesday.
On Friday night, the 53-year-old joined her husband, Donald Trump, to host the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who has become mostly known for championing what he terms ‘illiberal democracy,’ complete with limits on LGBTQ+ rights and immigration.
The former first lady, dressed in an all-white pantsuit, looked shocked when the Hungarian leader gave her a large bouquet of flowers, as seen in a video of her posted on his Instagram Stories, with the caption, “Pretty Woman.”
Melania’s appearance at the formal dinner marks a rare outing for the mother of one, as she has barely been seen alongside her husband, Trump, since the start of his re-election campaign.
Among the other videos shared on Orbán’s IG Stories was a clip of a framed Time Magazine cover of Trump, a Trump-branded water bottle, a shot of the American flag, and a huge portrait of the Republican presidential hopeful. Orbán also shared footage of his meeting with Trump and his staff.
Donald Trump Called The Autocratic Leader ‘The Boss’
In the final video posted on Orbán’s page, Trump could be heard praising the Hungarian leader as “the boss” and also a “great” and “fantastic leader of Europe.”
He said: “He’s a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it. Right? He’s the boss.”
The autocratic leader became Hungary’s Prime Minister in 2010, after a previous run from 1998 to 2002.
Similar to his embrace of Orbán, Trump has previously lauded Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After the Mar-a-Lago dinner, Orbán took to X (formerly Twitter) to show his gratitude to Trump.
He wrote, “It was a pleasure to visit President @realDonaldTrump today. We need leaders in the world who are respected and can bring peace. He is one of them! Come back and bring us peace, Mr. President!”
Melania Trump’s Last Appearance Was At The Trumpette’s Gala In Mar-a-Lago
Last month, Melania made a rare appearance alongside Trump, following speculations about her whereabouts. At the time, the hashtag “WhereIsMelania” trended on X, with many wondering if she would ever show public support for her husband amid his re-election campaign.
In what looked like an attempt to put an end to the speculations, Melania attended the Trumpette’s gala held in Mar-a-Lago on February 11. The former model looked stunning in a black outfit as she entered the grand ballroom before Trump, who was behind her, greeting fans and supporters
Approximately 1,000 people paid between $850 and $2,500 to meet Trump at the event, according to sources from the venue.
Before speaking to the large crowd of supporters at the gala, the former president introduced Melania by saying, “First of all, our great first lady.” The audience, who had presumably been waiting for Melania to make her way back to the campaign trail, cheered loudly for her.
Prior to the Trumpette’s gala, Melania was spotted by her husband’s side for a party in Mar-a-Lago. The couple had a broad smile while posing next to Israeli model Noy Tawil.
Melania Trump Marks International Women’s Day
In another rare move, Melania broke her social media silence to commemorate International Women’s Day. The former first lady’s last message was in Janaury, when she thanked fans for supporting her and her family after the loss of her mother, Amalija Knavs.
Melania wrote on Instagram about the special day: “On #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate extraordinary women & girls who defy expectations, shatter barriers, uphold distinction & leave a lasting impact. I applaud those who exhibit courage, stand firm in their beliefs, & strive for excellence.”
She added, “Let us remember that true greatness lies in embracing our unique selves & staying true to our values.”
The comment section of Melania’s post was quickly flooded with fans thanking her for the heartfelt message and requesting her to speak more on social media.