Melania Trump misses family holiday photo as she cares for ailing mother

Melania Trump's absence from the family holiday photo sparked speculation that she can't stand to be in the same room as her husband, former President Donald Trump, but the real reason was likely quite different.

Even if the relationship between Melania and Donald has seen better days, and we don't know definitively that this is the case, Melania would have wanted to be there with her son Barron, 17, who anchored the photo with his 6-foot, 7-inch frame.

What kept her away from the festive occasion was nothing less than family duty -- being by the bedside of her ailing mother, who was spending Christmas in the hospital, according to reports.

The former first lady reportedly supports her husband's run for a second presidential term and had planned to make more public appearances in 2024 to show it.

She appeared, of course, at the funeral of another former first lady, Rosalyn Carter, in November, and at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives earlier this month.

She has always been a good wife to the former president, and we are sure she will continue to be one no matter what happens with the presidential race and his four indictments as well as his civil trials.