Jimmy Fallon Jokes About Melania Trump’s Long Absence From Public Events

Jimmy Fallon has a theory about where Melania Trump may be after the first lady went nearly a month without making a public appearance alongside her husband, President Donald Trump.

During Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show, Fallon joked that Melania may have “run off” with another politician who has also been largely out of the public eye: Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell.

“Over the weekend, President Trump made a campaign stop in Long Island and Melania Trump did not travel with him,” Fallon said. “Yeah, people have noticed she’s been laying low. In fact, she hasn’t been seen in public for 29 days.”

Fallon then joked about the unusual length of her absence.

“Trump heard and was like, ‘Big deal. I haven’t seen her in private for two years,’” he said.

The comedian acknowledged that Melania may simply be choosing to stay away from the political spotlight. He said he understood that she was “taking a step back with everything going on” before turning the situation into another joke.

Fallon referred to the recent incident in which Trump reportedly used a catering truck as part of a security maneuver amid concerns about a possible assassination threat from Iran.

“She’s worried that at any moment she could be trapped with Trump inside her catering truck,” Fallon joked.

He then returned to his imagined scenario involving McConnell.

“All I know is that it’s going to be crazy when we find out she ran off with Mitch McConnell,” Fallon said. “That’s all. I just... That’s gonna be bizarre.”

The jokes came after a Daily Beast report said Melania had appeared publicly 38 times during the year, with her most recent appearance being the FIFA World Cup final on July 19. She has also missed several political events, including the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

McConnell has also been largely absent from public view. The Kentucky senator was hospitalized in June after a fall and pneumonia. Earlier this month, he said he had been released from a rehabilitation facility and planned to continue recovering while working from home.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear raised concerns about McConnell’s limited public communication during an appearance on Face the Nation on Sunday.

Beshear said he had heard “absolutely nothing back” from McConnell regarding his health. While wishing the senator well, Beshear argued that McConnell should provide at least a brief public update to the people he represents.

“All he needs to do is call into this show for two minutes, or Fox News for two minutes, or do a video for two minutes to the people he’s supposed to serve,” Beshear said.

For now, there is no indication that Melania Trump and McConnell are actually together. Fallon’s suggestion was simply a late-night joke about two prominent political figures who have recently spent less time in the public spotlight.