This was made clear earlier this month when the First Lady played a central role in Donald Trump's peace talks with Vladimir Putin.

Although Melania did not join Donald in Alaska, her presence was deeply felt in the form of a letter that was delivered to Vladimir Putin by her husband.

Melania, mother to Donald's youngest son Barron, urged the Russian president to 'singlehandedly restore' the 'melodic laughter' of the children caught in the conflict and end the war in Ukraine.

Raised on the fault line of East and West, the Slovenian-American knows first-hand the brutality inflicted by Russia on Eastern Europe. Her letter made headlines around the world. 

The intervention was also notable as one of the few political statements from the First Lady, who has kept a low profile in Washington, DC. The 55-year-old has made just 19 public appearances so far this term - compared to 40 at this point in Trump's first.

Vicious gossip has followed in the wake of her absence, with spurious claims about the state of her marriage to the vigorous 79-year-old president.

'I think that a lot of people underestimate how normal of a couple they are. He listens to her and seeks her counsel,' said one insider. 'She only wades in when she really will go to the paint on something – and she really cares about kids.'

Trump earlier this year made offhand comments about how his wife was influencing his approach to brokering peace in Ukraine.

'I tell the first lady, 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today — we had a wonderful conversation.' She said, 'Oh, really? Another city was just hit,' Trump said in July at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. 

While the remarks were light-hearted, they provided a fascinating glimpse into the couple's private life.

Melania has put caring for children at the top of her agenda - and it is not just the victims in Ukraine that have caught her attention.

Asked about his wife's view on the war in Gaza, Trump told reporters last month: 'She thinks it's terrible.' 

'And she sees the same pictures that you see, that we all see. And I think everybody, unless they're pretty cold-hearted - or worse than that, nuts - there's nothing you can say other than it's terrible when you see the kids.' 

Melania's involvement in domestic policy has also been inspired by the same wish to care for children.