Melania Trump's feud with Lara as First Lady misses Lindsey Graham funeral
Melania Trump's feud with Lara as First Lady misses Lindsey Graham funeral
Hollie Beale & Hannah Furnell Sun, August 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM UTC
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There are rumors of a feud between Lara Trump and Melania -Credit:AFP via Getty Images
Lara Trump seems to have stepped into Melania Trump's role alongside President Donald Trump in recent months, as reports of tension between them continue to surface.
In mid-May, the 43-year-old Fox News host accompanied her husband, Eric Trump, 42, the 80-year-old Commander-in-Chief, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth on the president's second state visit to China. Lara stayed close to Trump during his meeting with President Xi Jinping. Yet, Melania was conspicuously absent.
More recently, on Tuesday, July 28, Lara was present at Lindsey Graham's funeral with her husband and father-in-law, but Melania was again noticeably missing. As Lara continues to fill in for her stepmother-in-law, sources suggest that the 56-year-old First Lady and the former RNC co-chair have a "stiff relationship," with Melania seemingly keeping her distance from Lara. It comes after Karoline Leavitt accidentally humiliated Trump as critics asked about his 'diaper'.
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Melania is known to maintain distance from other women in the Trump family, even keeping a cordial rather than maternal bond with First Daughter Ivanka. Despite this, Lara has spoken positively about Melania, once praising both Melania and Ivanka, 44, for their "impeccable style," reports the Irish Star.
Melania has not publicly commented on Lara. In April, Lara defended Melania after Jimmy Kimmel broadcast a video pretending to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner and joked that the First Lady resembled "an expectant widow."
The poorly-timed remark about Melania came just days before the actual event on April 25, which was interrupted by a shooter. "Jimmy Kimmel has really fallen off the deep end," Lara said on Fox News.
Lara Trump also attended Lindsey Graham's funeral -Credit:Getty Images
"None of this is funny. Comedy isn't funny anymore."
Lara revealed that she supported Melania and the president's demand that ABC fire the late-night presenter. Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly taken off the air in September 2025 following remarks he made about the death of Charlie Kirk.
Lara expressed her enthusiasm about joining Trump on his trip to China. "Team CHYYYYYNA," wrote Lara in an Instagram caption prior to departing for Beijing.
She punctuated the post with both China's and the United States' flags. The picture included prominent figures like White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"First Lady Melania Trump is not traveling this time," the First Lady's office told the South China Morning Post, revealing that Melania would not be accompanying her husband to China. No further explanation was provided.
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Melania accompanied her husband to China during his first visit in 2017. Throughout the trip, she participated in various events, including educational and cultural programs. The First Lady also engaged in calligraphy, cooking, and astronomy sessions.
Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade even confused Lara for Melania in footage showing her stepping off Air Force One behind Trump. During the live broadcast, Kilmeade stated, "As the first lady comes down the stairs to join the president." Soon after the fumble, his co-host interrupted to correct him.
Meanwhile, an astrology specialist, Tracy Higgs, spoke to The Irish Star regarding Melania and Lara's rumored relationship, saying, "On the surface, they can appear harmonious because both signs dislike unnecessary confrontation, but underneath, there can be tension around position, image, and influence."
Now, Melania has found herself facing criticism after being absent from Lindsey Graham's funeral. On Tuesday, July 28, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Eric, and Lara were all present at the memorial service for the late Republican Senator, who passed away on July 11.
Lara Trump accompanied Donald in China instead of Melania -Credit:Getty Images
The service took place at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., but the First Lady was noticeably absent. Social media users flocked to X to criticize her for missing Graham's funeral.
One person wrote, "Why wasn't Melania there? What a disgrace. Thank God Eric and Lara Trump were there to support him. I pray he dumps her a--," as another slammed, "Why are all these clowns together in the front row? Where's Melania? Where's Usha?".
A third fumed, "Melania, you should be at the funeral. What's wrong not at dinner and now," as a fourth noted, "#melania trump didn't attend @LindseyGrahamSC funeral with her husband but was perched up at the FIFA World Cup finals?"
Yet another criticized, "She's a failure as a wife to our President. Abandoning him today at the memorial for his friend. Thank God Eric and Lara Trump are there in support."
However, Melania may be reluctant to attend high-profile public events at this time, given that she and her son, Barron Trump, have recently become the targets of a disturbing new assassination threat linked to Iran.
The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, released an AI-generated video on Monday, July 27, pinpointing locations frequented by the First Lady and outlining how potential assassins could target her.
It comesafter disrespectful Trump was slammed for a 'disgusting' act during Lindsey Graham's funeral.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
