Melania Trump has some chutzpah. While Jill Biden, America’s current First Lady, goes around fiercely defending her doddery husband and congratulating him on managing to answer “every question” as if he were a three-year-old child, the previous — and likely, for her sins, returning — Flotus doesn’t even show up to stand by her husband’s side two days after a bullet intended to assassinate him blew off part of his ear.

Donald Trump seemed unusually subdued and emotional on Monday night when he made his first public appearance since the shooting at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, appeared to have tears in his eyes as the former president walked out alone into the auditorium to the rousing sound of God Bless the USA, a large white bandage covering most of his right ear. Eric was there to support his father too, while youngest daughter Tiffany turned up to do her usual vacant smiling.

But Melania, in trademark DGAF style, was nowhere to be seen. On Tuesday evening, it was Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara who talked of the horror of watching “someone try to kill a person you love”, in the RNC slot usually reserved for the wife of the presidential nominee. The former Flotus made no appearance at all until Thursday evening, when she allowed Trump a rather awkward hug and then kiss on the cheek after his speech.