NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Former first lady will attend the in Milwaukee next week, making a rare political appearance. But unlike in years past, she is not expected to address the gathering where her husband, former President , will formally accept the Republican nomination.
While in the White House, Melania Trump sought to maintain her privacy and was often a reluctant presence on the campaign trail. This election season, she's largely avoided appearing on the campaign altogether.
Convention organizers released a full list of speakers Saturday that did not include the former first lady. A person familiar with the schedule confirmed that she would attend but not speak at the event. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning.
The list has the three top contenders for the vice presidential nomination 鈥� Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum 鈥� as well as a mix of Trump allies from inside and outside government.
Melania Trump has spoken at the last two Republican conventions. Spouses of presumptive nominees generally give speeches that describe their partners鈥� backgrounds and personal qualities.
During a 2020 convention upended by the , Melania Trump said that her husband 鈥渨ould not rest鈥� until he 鈥渉as done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic.鈥� Four years before that, she told the audience in Cleveland about her upbringing in Slovenia and attested to her husband's toughness and loyalty.
Her speechwriter in 2016 offered to resign after it was discovered some lines in her address were nearly identical to passages from a 2008 speech by .
Those who are slated to speak this year include Trump鈥檚 two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Lee Greenwood, the singer of Trump鈥檚 walk-on song, 鈥淕od Bless the USA,鈥� is also on the program, as is the model and rapper Amber Rose and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.
Other notable names include evangelist Franklin Graham, Teamsters President Sean O鈥橞rien and the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, who was highly critical of President response to a 2023 train derailment that spewed a cloud of hazardous chemicals into the air.
Some senior Trump campaign officials credit the former president鈥檚 trip to the town in the aftermath of the derailment as one of the most significant moments of his campaign and key to his transformation from exiled former leader to GOP front-runner.
Also appearing on stage will be Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trump鈥檚 fiercest primary rivals. But while DeSantis will appear, Nikki Haley was not invited. Trump remains angry with Haley over her refusal to drop out of the race until March.
The schedule includes former White House trade adviser , who is currently in jail on contempt of Congress charges, Friday. Navarro is set to be released from a Miami prison on Wednesday, July 17, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons鈥� online database of current inmates. That would give him just enough time to board a plane and make it to Milwaukee before the convention wraps Thursday.
Navarro was of contempt of Congress charges for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into on the U.S. Capitol.
The program will also feature former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who at one point considered running against Trump but ultimately decided against it.
The campaign previously announced a list of 鈥渞egular people鈥� who will be featured, including a group of students and fraternity brothers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, parents having trouble making ends meet, and his former golf caddie.
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Slodysko reported from Washington.
Jill Colvin And Brian Slodysko, The Associated Press
