Melania 'distancing herself' from Trump and probably won’t return to White House: report

Melania Trump won't likely spend much time in Washington, D.C., if her husband gets re-elected to a second term, according to those who follow her activities.

The former first lady was so reclusive during Donald Trump's first term in office that many wondered whether she lived at

the White House or with her parents in the suburbs, and Melania-ologists surveyed by Axios speculated that she would most likely spend a potential second term splitting time between Palm Beach and New York, where son Barron is rumored to be attending NYU.

"She's distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social political scene," said Kate Andersen Brower, who's written several books about

the White House and first ladies. "I mean, she clearly hated being in Washington."

She views the role of first lady as "unelected, not paid," said Mary Jordan, a Washington Post associate editor and author of a book about Melania, and would likely come to

the White House if her husband is re-elected only for ceremonial undertaking such as state dinners or special events.

"Melania does what Melania wants," Jordan said.

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Trump and his campaign officials have been promising that she'll be more involved on the campaign trail, and yet she never appeared alongside her husband at any of his trials, and so far she hasn't made any public appearances on his behalf and there have been no specific plans divulged about her role.

"Stay tuned," Trump said in March, when asked when his wife would hit the campaign trail for him.