Melania Trump to hold first major event of the 2024 campaign: Former first lady to raise money for LGBT conservatives at glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraiser

Melania Trump will make her return to the campaign trail this month when she hosts a glitzy fundraiser for LGBT conservatives at Mar-a-Lago.

The former first lady be the host for Log Cabin Republicans at the April 20th event taking place at her Palm Beach home, according to an invitation obtained by Politico.

It will be a rare political appearance by Melania Trump, who has stayed away from Donald Trump's re-election bid. 

She's also set to appear behind-closed-doors with him this Saturday evening at a massive fundraiser for his campaign that is expected to bring in up to $43 million. That event, which is taking place at Mar-a-Lago, is meant to be a counter to President Joe Biden's massive New York City fundraiser with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump prepare to vote at a polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 19

It's unclear what role Melania Trump will play in her husband's campaign for a second term in the White House.  

She has made only two formal public appearances for his campaign: his kickoff in November 2022 and last month when she appeared with him to vote in the Florida presidential primary.

Afterwards, she was asked when she is going to return to the campaign trail.

'Stay tuned,' she replied. 

The April event is the launch for the Log Cabin Republicans' 'Road to Victory' program, which plans to target voters in swing states. 

Melania Trump has long ties to the group. In 2021, she was the special guest at a dinner the Log Cabin Republicans hosted at Mar-a-Lago, where she was given an award. 

While accepting the honor, she said: 'As I look around the room, the word 'courage' comes to mind. It is the courageous spirit within each of you that has brought us together this evening and it is the courageous spirit of Abraham Lincoln, which gives us our guiding light today.' 

In a financial disclosure last year, she reported receiving a $250,000 payment from the group in December 2022. That year the group hosted an event a Mar-a-Lago that she attended and Donald Trump addressed.

Richard Grenell, who had served as Trump's ambassador to Germany and is openly gay, will also appear at the April 20th event.

Melania Trump had an event for Log Cabin Republicans at Mar-a-Lago in November 2021 

Melania Trump, along with son Barron (left), appeared at Mar-a-Lago's traditional Easter brunch last month

The former first lady remains popular among Trump's MAGA supporters but something of an enigma.

In the seven months of Donald Trump's campaign she has barely been visible.

Her most notable absence was on Super Tuesday, which was one of Donald Trump's biggest nights of the election season. It marked the contest where he essentially won the Republican nomination.

She didn't appear at his victory event at Mar-a-Lago even as most of his adult children were there. 

She has been at some Mar-a-Lago events. 

She and their son Barron were at Mar-a-Lago's traditional Easter brunch. And last month, she joined the former president when he hosted Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary.

Melania Trump accepted an award from Log Cabin Republicans in November 2021 

Barron Trump, Viktor Knavs, Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the funeral for Melania's mother Amalija Knavs in January 

In November, Melania Trump appeared at Rosalynn Carter's funeral along with fellow first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton

She's also participated in some solo events of her own.

She gave a speech last December at a naturalization ceremony in Washington, where she discussed her own experience in becoming an American citizen.

'My personal experience of traversing the challenges of the immigration process opened my eyes to the harsh realities people face, including you who try to become US citizens,' she said. 

She did not mention that husband supported hardline immigration policies as president, including blasting the same provisions that allowed Melania to become a citizen.

She attended a memorial service for Rosalynn Carter with other first ladies from both parties in November. It was the first occasion that all of the living first ladies had been in one place since George H.W. Bush's funeral in 2018. 

Melania Trump had a tough year in 2023. 

She spent much of the latter part of it caring for her ailing mother, Amalija Knavs. In January, she delivered the eulogy at her mother's funeral.