Melania Trump will accompany former President Donald Trump to Thursday’s Al Smith dinner in New York City, two sources familiar with her plans told NBC News.
The former first lady has been noticeably absent on the campaign trail for much of the 2024 race. The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July was the last time she appeared alongside her husband at a political event.
One source familiar with the plans said that Melania Trump decided to attend the dinner because “it’s tradition,” adding that, “this could be a precursor to more activity.”
The annual dinner, which benefits Catholic charities, is a $5,000-per-plate event that has traditionally been attended by presidential nominees on both sides of the aisle dating back to the 1960s.
In late September, a Kamala Harris campaign aide confirmed that the vice president would not attend the dinner, saying that she would instead be campaigning in key battleground states.
The move seemed to frustrate Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who then enlisted prominent New York Democrats to convince Harris to change her mind, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Melania Trump’s planned attendance comes as she promotes her new book, “Melania,” a memoir that has drawn attention in recent weeks for her frank position on abortion, which seems to be at odds with her husband’s position on the issues.
Julie Tsirkin, Peter Alexander and Lindsey Pipia contributed.
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