WASHINGTON — Melania Trump stayed behind while the president left on a weekend getaway Friday, making it 22 days since she last appeared in public.

President Trump boarded the presidential helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in the afternoon with his daughters, Ivanka and Tiffany, his oldest son, Donald Jr., and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The group appeared headed for a family weekend, minus the first lady, at the official Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains. Trump’s youngest son, Barron, 12, also was not seen boarding the helicopter.

The White House had said earlier Friday that Mrs. Trump would skip this trip, but gave no official reason.

Her mother, Amalija Knavs, was seen walking along the White House grounds around midday Friday.

The first lady was last seen May 10.

The president said last week that his wife is “doing great.”


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