Melania, Ivanka Take Their Seats at the R.N.C.

The former president’s wife and his eldest daughter — absent from the campaign — joined him on Thursday for his acceptance of the nomination, at a convention where other close family members have been visible all week.

Share full article

Former President Donald J. Trump with Melania Trump on Thursday at the Republican convention in Milwaukee. His older daughter, Ivanka, was also in attendance.

The tableau of Trump family unity is all but complete: Melania Trump has joined Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, in seats with other V.I.P.s at the back of the arena.

At times in the past four years — in January 2021, in November 2022 — it seemed that the Trumps might be banished to the political hinterlands. But this week’s events made it clear that the family is at the center of the modern Republican Party more than ever before.

Politics has become the family business. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have been fixtures of the convention. Lara Trump, Eric’s wife, spoke Tuesday as the co-chair of the Republican Party. Donald Trump Jr.’s teenage daughter, Kai, spoke Wednesday night, after the younger Mr. Trump’s longtime fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle. Tiffany Trump, Mr. Trump’s younger daughter, was in the audience on Monday.

But Mr. Trump’s wife, his youngest son and his older daughter have been notably absent — not just this week, but throughout the campaign. (Barron Trump, 18, has not appeared in the family seats Thursday night.)

Melania Trump, whose politics and relationship with her husband have long drawn considerable interest, has largely opted out of this campaign. Her last known political appearance with Mr. Trump was when they went together to cast their primary ballots on Super Tuesday in March. The next week, he clinched the nomination.

As Mr. Trump took the stage, Mrs. Trump was seated next to J.D. Vance, his vice-presidential pick.

Ivanka Trump, 42, introduced Mr. Trump at the conventions in 2016 and 2020. She was a senior adviser to her father in the White House.

This time, she said at the outset of his run that she would not be involved. Ms. Trump, a mother of three, has focused on family life and has not appeared on the campaign trail.

Rebecca Davis O’Brien covers campaign finance and money in U.S. elections. She previously covered federal law enforcement, courts and criminal justice. More about Rebecca Davis O’Brien

Michael Gold is a political correspondent for The Times covering the campaigns of Donald J. Trump and other candidates in the 2024 presidential elections. More about Michael Gold

See more on: 2024 Elections, Melania Trump, Donald Trump