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Varieties

Trump Solo: First Lady, Children Out of Frame in New Term 

US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and President Donald Trump attend the 2025 Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA 21 April 2025. (EPA)
US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and President Donald Trump attend the 2025 Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA 21 April 2025. (EPA)
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Trump Solo: First Lady, Children Out of Frame in New Term 

US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and President Donald Trump attend the 2025 Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA 21 April 2025. (EPA)
US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and President Donald Trump attend the 2025 Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA 21 April 2025. (EPA)

First Lady Melania Trump, relatively out of public view during her husband's first term, has been even more off-grid this time around.

In the first 100 days since Donald Trump returned to office, the first lady has appeared at only a handful of public events. It is unclear how many days she has even spent in Washington.

Trump's other family members have similarly been missing from the White House, but most are not shying away from the public spotlight.

Here is a look at what Trump's family is -- or isn't -- up to early in his second term:

- Whither Melania? -

When the president has returned from Florida -- where he spends nearly every weekend -- it is neither the first lady nor any other family member exiting the helicopter with him, but often his billionaire aide Elon Musk and Musk's young son.

Apart from fueling further speculation of marital strife, Melania Trump's absence from this weekly ritual highlights what Ohio University history professor Katherine Jellison calls a "major and very noticeable" shift from precedent.

"She's quite different from every first lady for a couple of generations at least, more than a couple of generations. I would have to go all the way back to Bess Truman in the late '40s and early '50s to find such a low-profile first lady," Jellison told AFP.

"Weeks and weeks go by and the American public doesn't really see her."

So what has she been up to? The public may eventually get a glimpse via a documentary series she is filming with Amazon, under a contract reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.

Jaded by the critiques of her previous tenure as first lady, Melania Trump, 54, seems determined to "get the upper hand and have more control over her public image," Jellison said.

"I think the American people in general still feel they don't know her, and maybe this... is her attempting to tell us who she is, but on her own terms."

- Older Kids -

During Donald Trump's first term, his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner held important White House advisory roles -- but not this time.

Ivanka has stated she wants to spend more time with her children, while Jared is managing a private equity fund.

Elder sons Don Jr. and Eric continue to run the Trump family business, which now includes, controversially, a growing cryptocurrency portfolio.

Unlike Ivanka, they both frequently take to social media to tout their father's MAGA agenda.

Don Jr. -- known for his ability to tap into the Trump base -- is especially vocal and hosts a twice-weekly podcast, "Triggered," which recently had Secretary of State Marco Rubio as an "exclusive guest."

Eric's wife Lara Trump, who co-led the national Republican Party during last year's campaign, now hosts a weekly Fox News show. It also frequently includes administration officials as guests.

The Trump family has continued to "capitalize on their roles as the First Family," Jellison said, in what previously would have been considered "quite taboo behavior."

Meanwhile, Tiffany Trump -- the president's only child with his second wife Marla Maples -- is expecting a child with husband Michael Boulos, and has remained out of the spotlight.

The president has, however, tapped Michael's wealthy father Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-born businessman with extensive experience in Nigeria, to be his senior advisor for Africa, and an advisor on Middle Eastern affairs.

- Generation Z -

Barron, the president's only child with Melania, has grown up a lot since his father's first term.

The 19-year-old, now a towering six-foot-seven-inches (2.01 meters), is studying business at New York University. He won MAGA admirers with his brief inauguration appearances, but has since remained out of public view.

Donald Trump's camp has credited Barron's advice on new media, such as podcasts and TikTok, as helping him win over young men voters.

Kai Trump, daughter of Don Jr. and ex-wife Vanessa Trump, has a growing social media following, especially on TikTok.

The 17-year-old, who notably spoke at last year's Republican National Convention, posts frequent video blogs showing her life as an amateur golfer, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes moments with "grandpa."

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Varieties

Macron’s ‘Top Gun’ Shades Charm Internet as Leaders Wrangle Over Greenland

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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Macron’s ‘Top Gun’ Shades Charm Internet as Leaders Wrangle Over Greenland

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron's aviator sunglasses have caught the eye, with social media users debating his choice of a "Top Gun" look as he criticized US President Donald Trump over Greenland during his speech in Davos.

As he spoke at the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos on Tuesday, the French president wore dark, reflective sunglasses.

Memes, comments and speculation over his appearance surged on social media, with some supporters praising him for his "Top Gun" look while opponents dismissed it as bombastic or speculated ‌about his ‌health.

Macron's office said the choice to ‌wear ⁠sunglasses during his ‌speech, which took place indoors, was to protect his eyes because of a burst blood vessel.

One meme, with the headline "Duel in Davos," was styled like a Top Gun parody, with Macron and Trump eyeballing each other, both wearing military-style flight suits, and Macron, looking very small next to Trump, sporting oversized aviator sunglasses.

References to the ⁠1986 movie starring Tom Cruise were ubiquitous.

"Trump: be careful ... Macron is here," one social ‌media user said on X, with a ‍picture of the French ‍president with the aviator glasses. "Could he not find some more sober ‍glasses?" another user asked.

Even Trump weighed in, mocking Macron for his glasses in his own Davos speech on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, some of Macron's colleagues had gotten in on the act, with European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad posting a version of the "Soyboy vs Yes Chad" meme with Chad donning aviators and draped in a French flag.

Italian ⁠group iVision Tech, which owns Henry Jullien, said the model worn by Macron was its Pacific S 01, with a price tag of 659 euros ($770) on its website. It said it sent Macron the sunglasses as a gift but that he had insisted on paying for them, and made sure they were made in France.

The Milan-listed stock was up almost 6% on Wednesday.

"The news this morning came as a surprise," the group's chief executive Stefano Fulchir said. "We were flooded with calls and requests on the ‌website ... The site crashed."

Varieties

3 Authors Win $10,000 Prizes for Blending Science and Literature

This combination of images shows cover art for “Ancient Light” by Kimberly Blaeser, left, “Bog Queen” by Anna North, center, and “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature” by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. (University of Arizona Press/Bloomsbury Publishing/Spiegel & Grau via AP)
This combination of images shows cover art for “Ancient Light” by Kimberly Blaeser, left, “Bog Queen” by Anna North, center, and “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature” by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. (University of Arizona Press/Bloomsbury Publishing/Spiegel & Grau via AP)
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3 Authors Win $10,000 Prizes for Blending Science and Literature

This combination of images shows cover art for “Ancient Light” by Kimberly Blaeser, left, “Bog Queen” by Anna North, center, and “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature” by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. (University of Arizona Press/Bloomsbury Publishing/Spiegel & Grau via AP)
This combination of images shows cover art for “Ancient Light” by Kimberly Blaeser, left, “Bog Queen” by Anna North, center, and “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature” by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. (University of Arizona Press/Bloomsbury Publishing/Spiegel & Grau via AP)

Three authors who demonstrated how scientific research can be wedded to literary grace have been awarded $10,000 prizes.

On Wednesday, the National Book Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced the winners of the fifth annual Science + Literature awards. The books include Kimberly Blaeser's poetry collection, “Ancient Light,” inspired in part by the environmental destruction of Indigenous communities; the novel “Bog Queen” by Anna North, the story of a forensic anthropologist and a 2000-year-old Celtic druid; and a work of nonfiction, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian's “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature.”

“These gifted storytellers shine a scientific and poetic light on the beauties and terrors of nature and what they reveal to us about our deepest selves, our humanity, and our existence on this planet,” Doron Weber, vice president and program director at the Sloan Foundation, said in a statement, The AP news reported.

Ruth Dickey, executive director of the National Book Foundation, said in a statement that the new winners continue the awards' mission to highlight “diverse voices in science writing that ... enlighten, challenge, and engage readers everywhere.”

The Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards, one of the literary world's most prestigious events. The Sloan Foundation has a long history of supporting books that join science and the humanities, including Kai Bird's and Martin J. Sherwin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “American Prometheus,” which director Christopher Nolan adapted into the Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer.”

“At a time when science is under attack, it has become more urgent to elevate books that bring together the art of literature with the wonders of science,” Daisy Hernández, this year's chair of the awards committee and a 2022 Science + Literature honoree, said in a statement.

Varieties

Meteorologists Blame a Stretched Polar Vortex, Moisture, Lack of Sea Ice for Dangerous Winter Blast

Ice forms along the Lake Michigan shore as People walk their dogs on a beach, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Ice forms along the Lake Michigan shore as People walk their dogs on a beach, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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Meteorologists Blame a Stretched Polar Vortex, Moisture, Lack of Sea Ice for Dangerous Winter Blast

Ice forms along the Lake Michigan shore as People walk their dogs on a beach, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Ice forms along the Lake Michigan shore as People walk their dogs on a beach, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Warm Arctic waters and cold continental land are combining to stretch the dreaded polar vortex in a way that will send much of the United States a devastating dose of winter later this week with swaths of painful subzero temperatures, heavy snow and powerline-toppling ice.

Meteorologists said the eastern two-thirds of the nation is threatened with a winter storm that could rival the damage of a major hurricane and has some origins in an Arctic that is warming from climate change. They warn that the frigid weather is likely to stick around through the rest of January and into early February, meaning the snow and ice that accumulates will take a long time to melt.

Wednesday’s forecast has the storm stretching from New Mexico to New England, threatening at least 250 million people.

“I think people are underestimating just how bad it’s going to be,” said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, now a private meteorologist.

The polar vortex, a patch of bitter cold air that often stays penned up in northern Canada and Alaska, is being elongated by a wave in the upper atmosphere that goes back to a relatively ice-free part of the Arctic and snow-buried Siberia. As the bone-chilling temperatures sweep through the US, they'll meet with moisture from off California and the Gulf of Mexico to set up crippling ice and snow in many areas.

Origins of the system in a warming Arctic The origins of the system begin in the Arctic, where relatively warmer temperatures add energy to the polar vortex and help push its cold air south.

“The atmosphere is aligned perfectly that the pattern is locked into this warm Arctic, cold continent," Maue said. "And it’s not just here for us in North America, but the landmass of Eastern Europe to Siberia is also exceptionally cold. The whole hemisphere has gone into the deep freeze.”

As far back as October 2025, changes in the Arctic and low sea ice were setting up conditions for the kind of stretched polar vortex that brings severe winter weather to the US, said winter weather expert Judah Cohen, an MIT research scientist. Heavy Siberian snowfall added to the push-and-pull of weather that warps the shape of the normally mostly circular air pattern. Those conditions “kind of loaded the dice a bit'' for a stretching of the polar vortex, he said, The AP news reported.

Cohen co-authored a July 2025 study that found more stretched polar vortex events linked to severe winter weather bursts in the central and eastern US over the past decade. Cohen said part of the reason is that dramatically low sea ice in the Barents and Kara seas in the Arctic helps set up a pattern of waves that end up causing US cold bursts. A warmer Arctic is causing sea ice in that region to shrink faster than other places, studies have found.

Arctic sea ice is at a record low extent for this time of year, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Where the winter blast will strike The center of the stretched polar vortex will be somewhere above Duluth, Minnesota, by Friday morning, ushering in “long-lasting brutal cold,” Maue said. Temperatures in the North and Midwest will get about as cold as possible, even down to minus 25 or 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 32 to minus 34 degrees Celsius), Maue said. The average low temperature for the Lower 48 states will dance around 11 or 12 degrees (minus 12 to minus 11 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Maue said.

Two Great Lakes — Erie and Ontario — may freeze up, which would at least reduce the famed lake-effect snow a bit, Maue said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Zack Taylor of the national Weather Prediction Center said most areas east of the Rockies will be impacted by the bitter cold, snow or ice. Treacherous freezing rain could stretch from the southern plains through the mid-South and into the Carolinas, he said.

“We’re looking at the potential for impactful ice accumulation. So the kind of ice accumulation that could cause significant or widespread power outages or potentially significant tree damage,” he said.

And if you don't get ice, you could get “another significant swath of heavy snow,” Taylor said. He said it was too early to predict how many inches will fall, but “significant snowfall accumulations” could hit "the Ozarks region, Tennessee and Ohio valleys, the central Appalachians, and then into the mid-Atlantic, and perhaps into the portions of the northeast.”

Maue said in the mid-Atlantic around the nation's capital, there's a possibility that “you can get two blizzards on top of each other in the next 14 days.”