Melania Trumpstayed in the US on Wednesday whileDonald Trumplanded in Beijing for high-stakes talks with China, and now claims surface that the First Lady may be 'quietly resentful' as a daughter-in-law, as Lara Trump steps into the spotlight.
Melania's office confirmed she would not be accompanying the 79-year-old President on his 6,844‑mile round trip, issuing a short statement to theSouth China Morning Post: 'First Lady Melania Trump is not travelling this time.'
The visit to Beijing has been framed as diplomatically weighty, with expectations of discussions on trade, regional security, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
In Melania's place, it was Lara, Donald's eldest son, Eric's wife, who joined him on the China tour, immediately fuelling speculation about family dynamics and public roles.
Melania Trump wearing Gucci in China (2017)pic.twitter.com/FjAPUTM4O7
Melania's absence is striking because of how visible she was during Trump's first presidential visit to China in 2017. Then, Chinese officials staged an elaborate welcome, and Melania's schedule was packed. She attended cultural and educational events, appeared at Banchang Primary School alongside Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, and participated in sessions on calligraphy, astronomy, architecture, cooking, and the Peking opera. This time, she remained in US, with an NBC News source claiming that she wanted to focus on her duties and prioritise 'America's families and children.'
The vacuum has been quickly filled. Lara has appeared at her father‑in‑law's side abroad and, back home, has taken increasingly prominent roles within the Trump political apparatus.
Critics online accused her of mimicking Melania's polished look, right down to the silhouettes and styling, as if she were consciously stepping into an existing role. No evidence has been produced that Lara is deliberately copying Melania; the claims are largely based on side‑by‑side photographs and social media commentary.
Still, the optics were striking enough forIrish Starto ask astrology expert Tracy Higgs how the shift might feel inside the family. Higgs did not claim inside knowledge, but interpreted the situation through the women's star signs. 'Melania Trump, a Taurus, and Lara, a Libra, are two very different personalities when you look at them astrologically,' she said. Taurus energy, she argued, prefers 'stability, privacy, loyalty, and keeping control of the environment around them,' while Libra tends to be 'more social, diplomatic, and comfortable stepping into public roles.'
According to Higgs, that combination can look harmonious in public because 'both signs dislike unnecessary confrontation.' Beneath the surface, though, she suggested there may be tension around 'position, image, and influence.' Her view is that any friction would be less about personal dislike and more about perception. 'Taurus can become territorial, especially when they feel something important to them is being quietly replaced or overlooked,' she said. Libra, by contrast, might 'unintentionally step into spaces that emotionally belong to someone else without fully realising the impact.'
Source: International Business Times UK
