First Lady Melania Trump chose not to accompany US President Trump on his important trip to China, opting instead to focus on her responsibilities supporting American families and children in the United States, according to a source from NBC News.

Melania’s absence from the official delegation during the President’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has raised questions about her current location.

While she did travel with her husband to China in 2017, this time President Trump is joined by various senior US officials and prominent CEOs.

In the meantime, Melania remains in Washington DC to commemorate the 180-day anniversary since her husband signed the Fostering the Future Executive Order, a move that aligns with one of her main initiatives to assist children in state care.

According to a source cited by the Washington Post, the First Lady was never intended to participate in the trip, even before it was rescheduled due to the US-Iran conflict.

“The First Lady’s focus is on American families and children through her domestic initiatives, and that is where her attention lies at this time,” the source explained.

However, Melania is expected to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House in September during their reciprocal visit to the US. Notably, Brett Ratner, the director of the documentary “MELANIA,” has joined President Trump on his China trip as part of the US delegation, adding an unexpected element to the state visit.

As reported by the Post, the First Lady was unaware of Ratner’s inclusion on Air Force One’s journey to Beijing.

Ratner, who faced allegations of misconduct in 2017, has returned to the spotlight by co-producing Melania’s documentary, a production acquired by Amazon for $75 million. The documentary follows Melania’s preparations leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration as she readies to resume her duties as First Lady.

Also present on the tour to China in 2026 are Trump’s son Eric and daughter-in-law Lara. In a recent post, Lara shared a photo featuring members of the delegation, including Natalie Harp, Trump’s executive assistant, who plays a pivotal role in managing Trump’s presence on Truth Social and publishing his content.

The account associated with Trump posted 55 messages between 10.14pm and 1.12am, including a series of reshared endorsements from his supporters hailing him as the “greatest president ever.”