Melania Trump releases first statement in weeks after mysteriously vanishing from public eye

Melania Trump has seemingly come out of hiding.

In the midst of light-hearted rumours about her apparent 'disappearance' - prompted by the fact she's remained out of the public eye since her husband was inaugurated last month - the First Lady has released a statement.

For those out of the loop with recent speculation, 54-year-old Melania first sparked concerns over her whereabouts after missing out on several White House events of late.

Firstly, the mother-of-one - who shares her 18-year-old son Barron with the 47th US president - failed to appear at a meeting Trump held with several world leaders earlier this month (4 Feb).

While the likes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and King Abdullah of Jordan rocked up to the White House, Melania was seemingly nowhere to be seen.

She was also supposedly absent from a formal dinner her other-half had hosted in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, for the Republican senators and their spouses, and opted not to attend the Super Bowl last weekend.

And adding to the mystery is the fact that the last online move that involved Melania was a portrait of her, shared on the @flotus Instagram account last month.

Melania was last seen at her husband's inauguration (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"Does anyone know where Melania is now? She was right by his side & now she's gone. I miss her being here!" one desperate fan recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another asked: "Where is Melania? It’s been quite some time since she’s been in public."

Apparently, however, she's alive and well, and has this week broken her silence in a statement confirming that tours of the White House are soon to resume following the Trump family transition period.

According to Fox News, a newly-released press released signed by Melania reads: "The President and I are excited to reopen the White House to those interested in the extraordinary story of this iconic and beautiful landmark.

"There is much to learn about the American Presidency, the First Families who have lived here, and our Nation’s rich history from a firsthand experience at the White House."

She continued: "This opportunity is unique among nations around the globe — a tradition we are honored to continue for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year."

Melania and Barron will be splitting their time between three locations going forward (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Prior to Melania releasing her latest update, it was theorised by many that she'd been spending much of her time in New York, where Barron is currently attending NYU's Stern School of Business.

This suggestion was seemingly sparked in part by a confession the First Lady once made about how she'd split her time going forward.

Speaking to Fox News last month (13 Jan), opened up about she and her son's living arrangements, revealing they'd divide their whereabouts between Washington DC, New York City, and Palm Beach in Florida over the next four years, but prioritising one of them.

Asked where she'll spend the most time, Melania revealed: "I will be in the White House. And when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach.

"My first priority is to be a mum, to be a First Lady, to be a wife."