Comments about Melania Trump’s public re-emergence being motivated by money were related to news in September 2023 that she reportedly negotiated her prenup with Donald Trump. According to Page Six, that marked the third time the couple had renegotiated the framework of their prenup. Melania’s desire to update the agreement came from two factors. “Melania is most concerned about maintaining and increasing a substantial trust for their son, Barron,” a source told the outlet. “This agreement was necessary because of the current legal battles,” the insider added. At the time, Nicki Swift spoke to a lawyer who said it was smart for Melania to renegotiate the prenup amid Donald’s legal woes.
While some believed that Melania’s extended absence from the public eye was financially motivated, Donald had a simple explanation for why his wife had not been with him on the campaign trail. “She’s a private person. It’s funny, she was a very successful model, very, very successful, and yet she was a private person,” he told Fox News in February (via Newsweek). Donald said the former first lady did not need to always be by his side. “If I didn’t introduce Melania she’d be very happy about it,” he added.
Stephanie Wolkoff, a former aide to Donald, reiterated that sentiment as rumors swirled about the Trumps possibly getting divorced. “Melania Trump was NOT at Donald’s victory party because she did NOT have to be. His supporters do NOT care if she is by his side or NOT,” she tweeted on March 6.