Melania Trump has tweeted to address speculation about her health, after not being seen in public for 20 days.
“I’m here at the White House with my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!” the US first lady tweeted.
She was most recently seen in public on 10 May at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, when she accompanied her husband as he greeted returning US citizens released from North Korea.
Four days after that appearance, the White House announced that the 48-year-old had successfully undergone an “embolisation” procedure to treat a benign kidney condition, and that there were no complications. She spent five nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Maryland.
I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 30, 2018
Melania’s admission to hospital came as a surprise, as there had been no public indication she was unwell. She had been expected to stay for two to three days, but she remained in hospital for five days, which led some to suggest her health problem was more complicated than suggested. First ladies are under no obligation to make their medical histories public.
Last week, when questioned about his wife’s health, Donald Trump told reporters: “She’s doing great,” and pointed up at her window. “Right there. She’s doing great. Just looking at us, right there.”
She did not appear to be at the window, intensifying speculation.
During her public absence, a handful of social media postings have appeared on her accounts. She marked Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, expressed sympathy to victims of the Santa Fe shooting, and offered thanks to Britt Slabinski, a former navy seal, after he was presented with the Medal of Honor at the White House.
Melania’s absence from public view has spawned all sorts of wild theories on social media about health and marriage, but her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said the first lady has been meeting her staff on the Be Best initiative, which was launched on 7 May.
She was also said to be working on forthcoming projects such as the annual White House picnic for members of Congress in June and Independence Day festivities. Grisham said the first lady would like to be “out and about promoting her initiatives but her health comes first”.
The relationship between the president and his wife has continued to fascinate the public after a series of incidents caught on camera appeared to show her unwilling to holdhis hand in public. The president also raised eyebrows by spelling his wife’s name wrong in a tweet welcoming her home from hospital.
“Great to have our incredible first lady back home in the White House,” Trump wrote on 19 May. “Melanie is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes!”
