'Enigma wrapped in Valentino': columnist shreds idea that Melania is Trump's secret weapon

A new op-ed asks readers wondering if Melania Trump is a secret campaign weapon to envision the former first lady wrapped in a luxurious bathrobe staring at photo albums as her husband faces criminal accusations that he paid hush money to an adult film star.

The Guardian's Arwa Mahdawi Tuesday posed the question of Melania Trump's "secret weapon" status as the former first lady makes a slow return to the spotlight after a notable absence.

While Mahdawi argues Melania's walk along the campaign trail "certainly won’t hurt" former President Donald Trump's 2024 bid to return to the White House, she doesn't believe it will win him the game.

"Melania is not exactly a unifying figure and bears the dubious distinction of leaving the White House with a 47% unfavourable rating: the worst popularity rating for any first lady in history," wrote Mahdawi.

"Still, even if she is not universally loved, Trump looks a lot better to voters with his wife standing by his side than he does with her keeping a conspicuous distance."

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Mahdawi then ponders what Melania's second act might look like and concludes: "Probably more of the same. Which wasn’t much."

For source material, Mahdawi cites a new book from New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, "American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady."

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"Melania 'avoided being overscheduled, and at times avoided being scheduled at all,'" the columnist writes. "She apparently took to wearing elegant bathrobes 'at all hours' and spent a lot of time redecorating and 'assembling photo albums of her aesthetic contributions to the White House.'"

What this ultimately means, Mahdawi concluded, is that"if the Trumps reoccupy the White House, expect Melania to fiddle with the furniture while the world burns."