Melania Trump's debate mystery: How former first lady could 'break tradition' of presidential showdowns since 1976 as speculation grows about her campaign future

The question of whether or not Melania Trump will attend Thursday night's presidential debate remains a mystery as questions mount over whether the former first lady will publicly campaign with her husband.

The Trump campaign, in a conference call with reporters, wasn't able to answer if she would be at the consequential first showdown between Trump and Joe Biden in Atlanta on Thursday night.

'I would expect we probably make our announcement at the debate,' said campaign adviser Jason Miller. 

The former president walked off Trump Force One solo when he arrived in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. 

In contrast, the White House has announced Jill Biden will attend the debate and a rally with President Biden on Friday in Atlanta.

'Families started attending the debates regularly in 1976 and it would be pretty shocking for the wife of a candidate to break that tradition,' presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky said. 

The mystery around the first lady's attendance follows a new report she may not live in Washington D.C. fulltime if her husband wins a second term in the White House.

Those close to the former first lady believe she will likely split her time between  Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City – especially with Barron, 18, tipped to attend New York University, Axios reported.

Melania would instead only travel to Washington, D.C. for ceremonial responsibilities like state dinners and other special events. 

Her office did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com about the report. 

'They have drawn a curtain of privacy' around her, said MaryAnne Borrell, a bipartisan professor of Government at Connecticut College.

It also comes as public sightings of her are rare, particularly when it comes to Donald Trump's attempt to win a second term in the White House.

Six months into 2024 she has yet to appear at a campaign rally for her husband. She did not appear at a June 14th birthday party for Donald Trump organized by his fan club.

It would be highly unusual for Melania not to attend Thursday's debate. She did attend all debates in the 2016 and 2020 election cycles.

Melania Trump has rarely showed public support for her husband as he seeks a second term in the White House.

She joined Trump when he announced his 2024 presidential bid in November of last year. But, otherwise, she only appeared at one fundraiser for his campaign and went to vote with her husband in Florida's primary. 

'Stay tuned,' she told reporters when asked if she'd campaign for Trump.

But it's unclear what she meant by that. 

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former friend of Melania Trump turned critic, said the former first lady has 'not been by her husband's side whatsoever' as he seeks a return to the White House.

'I would say, several years ago, she would have been there more,' Winston Wolkoff said on the MeidasTouch Podcast.

Melania Trump will make a rare political appearance on July 8th when she holds a fundraiser for Log Cabin Republicans, the largest conservative LGBTQ+ organization.

The event will be at Trump Tower in New York and is the second fundraiser she's hosted for the group. The first was at Mar-a-Lago in April.

The July event will charge attendees $100,000 per-head.

She was last seen in public in New York City last week, leaving Trump Tower, beating the heat in a summer skirt and white shirt.

The couple was last seen in public together in May at Barron's high school graduation.