Melania Trump to be deployed as Trump campaign’s ‘secret weapon’ 

Melania Trump’s headlining fundraiser later this month is part of a strategy to portray the former first lady as a “softer, more moderate voice” for the Trump campaign, sources told The Post.

While Donald Trump will join his wife at the April 20 fundraiser, hosted at Mar-a-Lago by the Log Cabin Republicans, insiders said the campaign intends to put — and keep — Melania in the spotlight as the feminine counterpoint to his brash style. 

“The Trump campaign recognizes that Melania is their secret weapon,” a source close to the campaign said. “Her appeal is critical to win battleground states and undecided voters, especially now that they’ve won’t the primary and are hyper-focused on the general.”

Indeed, Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf told The Post, “This is just the beginning of using softer faces and voices as surrogates.

“They’re coming up with a more diverse picture — they’re trying to make voters feel more comfortable.”

According to GOP fundraiser Caroline Wren, Melania, 53, is a draw in her own right.

“People will ask me if Melania will be at a fundraiser before they sign up,” told The Post. “People really like her… she is a huge asset to the campaign and to fundraising.” 

Another key surrogate who could win over socially liberal voters is Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting National Intelligence Director and the first openly gay member of a presidential cabinet.

“Ric is everywhere these days. He is a terrific fundraiser, and there is no one better to articulate America-first foreign policy,” Wren said. 

The Washington Post recently referred to Grenell as a shadow secretary-of-state — and he could be poised to officially get the job if Trump is re-elected, sources told The Post. 

The upcoming fundraiser has already brought in seven figures, a source told The Post.

Money raised by the Log Cabin Republicans, a group focused on reaching LGBTQ+ Republicans, will be primarily used to help Trump and other GOP candidates in 2024. 

The host committee includes Elizabeth Ailes, the widow of longtime Fox News chief Roger Ailes, along with Bill White — the former president of New York City’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, and his husband, Bryan Eure. The once liberal couple’s surprising support for Donald Trump landed them a New York Times profile in 2018.

While Melania is expected to put a “friendly face,” as a source put it, on the campaign trail over the next months, her earlier absence was so noticeable that rivals distributed “Missing Melania” flyers ahead of the January Iowa Caucus.

But when the Trumps showed up to vote in the Florida presidential primary on March 19, Melania told reporters to “stay tuned” about her future campaign appearances. 

Another source with knowledge of the Trump campaign told The Post that, even though Melania has been out of the public eye, she has been integrally involved in the race.

“It is a real marriage and Melania is absolutely his biggest supporter… and all in on Trump,” the source said. “They want the public to see that too.”

“Could she turn the election?” Sheinkopf asked. “At this point, anything could turn the election.”