Standing by her man (again): Melania smiles and even gives Donald a kiss as he celebrates his victory – having endured the embarrassment of rape trials and porn star ‘hush money’ over past four years

Melania Trump is standing by her husband Donald Trump again as he celebrates his 2024 election victory after having been largely absent from the campaign trail this election cycle.

Melania, 54, held her husband’s hand and smiled at the crowd of MAGA fans at his election watch party in Palm Beach, Florida as Trump took the stage and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

The presumptive president-elect thanked his ‘beautiful wife’ for her dedication and praised her for ‘working very hard to help people’ as he delivered his victory speech.

Trump, 78, who kissed Melania’s cheek amidst addressing his supporters, also mentioned her memoir Melania, which he touted as the ‘number one best-selling book in the country’.

The couple’s celebratory appearance comes just weeks after Melania made her triumphant return to politics by introducing Trump at his star-studded rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Donald Trump fists pumps the crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center while holding hands with his wife Melania

Melania Trump smiled as she held her husband Donald’s hand at his election watch party

Melania, standing next to her husband and son Barron, cheers as her husband celebrates his election victory

The former First Lady, 54, who has been largely absent from Trump’s campaign this election cycle, accompanied her husband as he celebrated his return to the White House early Wednesday morning.

She stood near her husband and was joined by Barron, the youngest Trump child. Trump’s older children, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany also joined their father on stage.

Trump claimed victory and pledged to ‘heal’ the country as he declared his election win as ‘a political victory that our country has never seen before.’

He also thanked his ‘beautiful wife Melania’ who ‘has the number one best-selling book in the country’ and his ‘whole family and ‘amazing children’. 

His exuberant speech came despite the fact that only Fox News had declared him the winner, with no other US networks having made the call so far. The Associated Press had still not called the election for Trump by 3am EST. 

Melania had joined a cast of stars at Madison Square Garden in late October to rally support for her husband.

She was introduced on stage by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and came out to a roaring standing ovation as she defiantly told the crowds ‘New York City and America needs their magic back’.

Melania only spoke for five minutes, but her speech was focused more on a vision for the country and less about politics, while her husband said it would be an ‘honor’ to win New York and warned that voting for Kamala Harris is a ‘gamble’ that could ‘cost millions of lives’ and lead to ‘World War Three’.

It was a rare and stunning move from the former first lady, who has been clear about her disdain of politics. 

She went to the Republican National Convention but didn’t speak. She did not attend either presidential debate.

Melania accompanied Trump as he cast his vote in Palm Beach, Florida on Election Day, but kept her sunglasses on as her husband took questions from reporters.

She answered one short question about how she was feeling: ‘Very good. Thank you.’ 

Donald Trump arrives at his election night event with his smiling wife Melania and their 18-year-old son Barron by his side

Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Viktor Knavs, JD Vance and Ivanka Trump are pictured together at the election night watch party in Palm Beach, Florida

After they voted the couple swung by Trump’s campaign headquarters to thank his staff and asked them to make sure there was no ‘cheating’ happening on Election Day.

‘You are going to be watching. They’re watching to make sure there is no cheating, right. No cheating,’ he said, before vowing to ‘turn this country around.’

Melania said a quick word to thank the staff.

‘A great job. Thank you so much for your support. It was hard work, I know. It’s hours to hours. I know how hard my husband is working. Nonstop. Thank you for all of your support. Great job,’ she told them.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.