"It seems you missed me": Melania Trump returns after a month away from the public eye

Melania Trump joked on Thursday after a month away from the public and the American media, as rumors of an alleged affair between her husband and one of his aides grow.

"Hello, I hear you missed me. Here I am," smiled the American First Lady during an event in the White House Rose Garden, held ahead of the IndyCar race organized this weekend in Washington by the Trump administration.

All eyes were on Melania Trump, 56, who had not appeared in public since the World Cup final on July 19.

The former model of Slovenian origin then skipped several major events, including the White House Correspondents' Dinner, postponed to July 26, whereas she had attended the first edition in April, which was canceled following gunfire.

An analysis published Monday by the American channel NBC showed that Melania Trump has been much more discreet since the beginning of her second term as First Lady, participating in about half as many events as during the same period of her first term.

Her return to the public stage also occurred amid growing rumors of a romantic relationship between President Donald Trump and his 35-year-old assistant, Natalie Harp.

The White House reacted strongly last week after comments made by a Democratic Senate candidate.

The woman in her thirties has been a constant presence at the side of the octogenarian president since the beginning of his second term, sometimes writing his publications on Truth Social and printing documents for him, which has earned her the nickname "human printer".

Natalie Harp did not appear to be attending the event held Thursday in the White House Rose Garden.