Melania Trump’s Back-to-Back Snubs of Major Trump Family Events Are Getting Hard To Explain
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Bettina Anderson’s wedding to Donald Trump Jr. took another step forward after she celebrated her shower on Sunday, April 12, at Mar-a-Lago. While the event went off without a hitch, it’s the guest list that is raising eyebrows.
While Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Donald Trump’s second wife, Marla Maples, were all present to celebrate the bride, Melania Trump was noticeably absent, according to People.
“The shower was gorgeous,” a source told the media outlet. “The event was held mostly inside and was lovely, but there were guests hanging outside some of the time.”
This isn’t the first major Trump family celebration that the first lady has skipped, either. In April 2025, Melania didn’t attend Tiffany’s baby shower at the Florida estate. An insider told People that there wasn’t “any reason” for Tiffany’s stepmother to be there because she “has her own schedule, even on weekends.”
There have been plenty of rumors that Melania does not get along with other members of the Trump family, especially when it comes to Ivanka. In September 2020, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff’s book, Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady, chronicled the women’s troubled relationship.
“Melania lived in New York. She didn’t appear in public or release statements to the press. Her social media was quiet,” Wolkoff wrote about their feud during Donald Trump’s first administration. “Ivanka rushed in to fill the void as ‘acting’ First Lady, issuing constant social media posts and press releases galore about her involvement with women’s issues, lobbying Daddy about climate change (alas, unsuccessfully), and attending every meeting she could slink her way into.”
Their dislike of each other reportedly carries over to this day. Ahead of the first lady’s documentary release in theaters, Washington D.C insiders were whispering about Ivanka’s “complete absence” in the film.
“Melania and Ivanka do not get along — not at all,” the source claimed to Rob Shuter’s Substack, Naughty But Nice. “There’s real tension, and Melania made it clear she didn’t want Ivanka anywhere near this film.” The family friend alleged that “there’s zero love lost” and “Ivanka’s absence is intentional.”
It’s unclear why Melania doesn’t feel welcome to attend family parties that are often major milestones, but the feud seems to be subtly taking on a life of its own.
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