Melania Trump Stuns at Fundraiser “We Raised $1.4 Million in One Night”
In a rare public appearance, former First Lady Melania Trump captivated attendees at a lavish fundraiser in New York City on Monday night. Dressed in a $4,000 red Valentino dress paired with red patent leather Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps, Melania hosted an intimate gathering at Trump Tower, raising $1.4 million for the Log Cabin Republicans, the largest conservative LGBTQ+ organization.
Exclusive photos from the event, obtained by DailyMail, showcase Melania’s striking presence as she welcomed guests to the Trumps’ private penthouse, which spans three floors of Trump Tower. The event took place on Monday, July 8, 2024.
Notable attendees included former Trump White House official Kellyanne Conway, former Senator Kelly Loeffler, businessman Bryan Eure and his husband Bill White, former acting director of U.S. National Intelligence Richard Grenell, and philanthropists Nazee and Joseph Moinian.
The fundraiser marked Melania’s second event of the year for the Log Cabin Republicans and occurred amid a period of relative seclusion for her husband, former President Donald Trump. Following his debate with President Joe Biden, where Biden’s performance drew criticism from many Democrats, Trump has largely remained out of the public eye.
He did, however, make a brief appearance on Fox News’s Sean Hannity show and has been active on his Truth Social account. He is scheduled to hold a rally at Trump Doral, his Miami golf club, on Tuesday evening. Richard Grenell, who announced the event’s fundraising success on social media platform X, praised Melania for opening her home to support the cause.
“It’s the first campaign event ever held at the Trump residence. And we raised $1.4 million in one night. Our goal is to get 50% of the gay vote for Donald Trump,” Grenell wrote. Charles Moran, head of the Log Cabin Republicans, described the evening as an “amazingly spectacular event,” highlighting Melania’s commitment to the organization’s mission.
Melania’s reappearance in the sleeveless red crepe midi dress by Valentino is notable, as she first wore the ensemble in April 2017 during a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago. Red, considered a lucky color in China, added a layer of symbolic significance to her choice.
Monday night’s event underscores Melania’s selective approach to public engagements since her husband’s presidential campaign began. Unlike First Lady Jill Biden, who actively campaigns for President Biden and joined him onstage after the debate, Melania has made few public appearances for her husband’s campaign. She was last seen in public in late June, leaving Trump Tower in a summer skirt and white shirt.
Melania and Donald Trump were last photographed together in May at their son Barron’s high school graduation. While Melania accompanied Trump during his 2024 presidential bid announcement in November last year, she has largely remained behind the scenes, attending only one other fundraiser and voting with her husband in Florida’s primary.
When asked by reporters if she plans to campaign for Trump, Melania cryptically responded, “Stay tuned,” leaving her intentions unclear. Her limited public presence has sparked speculation about her future involvement in the campaign.