Melania and Ivanka

There was Melania Trump, next to Juliana Awada, the wife of Mauricio Macri, a surprise, because Trump, the Slovenian ex-model, hardly ever appears in official activities, to the extent that some have described her as the “least relevant” first lady of the U.S. in recent years.*

Over time, the institution of the first lady has been forged by the character of successive presidential wives. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were relegated to the private sphere, but as the fight for women’s rights took flight, first ladies (FLOTUS, for First Lady of the United States, in White House lingo) took on much more of a political role; in fact, some became true activists.

In the 20th century, Eleanor Roosevelt stood out for her promotion of human rights; later, Lady Bird Johnson and Rosalynn Carter were symbols of action. They embraced a feminism without ideology, they defended civil rights, equal pay and nondiscrimination. They were influential women, more than anything because they were by the sides of the most powerful men in the world, but they were not mere accompaniments to their husbands. They became the “model” for U.S. women.

Laura Bush, with her smooth voice, was not scared to face the press and defend controversial topics and even involved herself in international politics. Hillary Clinton, without a doubt, has been the most politically active and controversial of the latest first ladies and the only one to occupy an office in the West Wing, the section of the White House reserved for executive tasks. Michelle Obama, the first African-American first lady, with her natural style and campaigns for healthy eating and better education for girls, became a feminine icon of the 21st century.

And Melania? She is almost never seen. She announced that she would dedicate her efforts toward improving the quality of life for children, but as of yet, she has done nothing. Perhaps Trump’s obsession with Twitter dissuades her. For now, even though she denies it, Ivanka, the “First Daughter,” occupies Melania’s place. It is not Melania who has the office closest to Trump but Ivanka. It is not Melania, but Ivanka, who accompanies Trump to meetings with foreign leaders, who sits in the highest-level meetings (like the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations’ summit meetings in Germany) and who has daily access to the office and ear of her controversial father.

Ivanka has already made clear that she will seek the “economic empowerment of women,” and that she will continue fighting for equal pay and for paid maternal leave. And she is not concerned by the diplomatic controversy caused by her pledge to help with humanitarian crises in Africa outside of government programs.

Meanwhile, Melania is absent. Could it be because of shyness, disinterest or a difficult relationship with Donald? The press, the creator of the institution of first lady, is waiting for her to settle into Washington to scrutinize her movements, see how she defines her style and reveal which topics they will take from her very private life.