Like Kennedy, she is stylish and luxury-loving (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) So much for the anticipation of a "first gentleman". One consequence of electing another male White House incumbent is that the tradition of glossy first ladies lives on – and none is as glitzy, image-savvy and yet durably enigmatic as Melania Trump. The future of the family dynasty, a court whose game of thrones is as intense across generations and internal factions as any ruthless party power struggle, was also on the US election ballot this week.
But while children and now grown-up grand-children vye for prominence via social media posts demonstrating their closeness to "grandpa", it is Melania who will be occupying the East Wing residency of the official spouse – and inherit the opulence bestowed by the late Jackie Kennedy (including separate bedrooms, which many incumbents have found a useful perk when the marital going gets rough). Like Kennedy, she is stylish and luxury-loving. But as she returns for a second term in the role, there are signs that the First Lady (and third spouse) of the President is starting to have things her own way.
She appeared looking markedly cheerful for the election result call, and having followed the Trumps on the campaign trail, it is always pretty obvious when she is not engaged, because she dons huge sunglasses (the Jackie self-defence weapon) and simply pouts silently throughout. Like medieval court optics, much can be said by simply appearing – o.