Donald and Melania Trump Return to ‘Doing Their Own Thing’ Between Appearances, but They Do Have 1 Hobby in Common

First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump may follow largely separate day-to-day routines, but they do share one personal interest, a political and social source says: interior design.

The source says Donald considers himself a skilled designer and enjoys shaping the look and feel of his properties.

“Donald has his own vision for his homes and clubs, and over the years has designed and selected a lot of the furnishings and finishings himself at Mar-a-Lago and the golf clubs,” the source says. “He and Melania have that in common. They both love interior design.”

The source claims the couple otherwise spend limited time together beyond joint public appearances.

“There is little interaction between them, just what is expected,” the source says. “Then they go back to doing their own thing.”

In response to the source’s characterization, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, “President Trump and the entire administration work 24/7 for the American people to deliver on the promise to Make America Great Again. The Trump Family is the most successful family of all time.”

A social source previously said that, about a month into Donald’s second term, the president and first lady split their time between their residences and both “have quarters in the White House,” while adding that Melania “leads her own life and joins him when appropriate.” That source said Melania typically “keeps to herself” when in Palm Beach but joins her husband for dinner “on occasion.”

An insider also said the couple shared a midnight kiss on New Year’s Eve while welcoming 2026 at a party at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.

“Melania was happy and enjoying the night while the president looked bored and tired, but was nice to the guests and wishing them well,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Donald has been focused on the design of a new White House ballroom — a $400 million project described as spanning 90,000 square feet. The president, who the source says prefers to personally review design options, visited Arc Stone & Tile, a retail marble store in Lake Worth Beach, Fla., near Mar-a-Lago, according to local reports.

During a Hanukkah reception at the White House in December 2025, Trump said a federal judge allowed the project to move forward, praising the ruling and calling it an act of “courage.”

“We’re donating a $400 million ballroom,” Trump said at the event, according to footage shared by C-SPAN. “Myself and donors are giving them, free of charge, for nothing.”

Trump was previously sued by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued construction began before required plans were submitted for federal review and without congressional approval, as is typically required.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected the group’s request to temporarily halt construction, but said he would hold a hearing in January on the group’s request for a preliminary injunction. He also warned the Trump administration against making underground construction decisions that could lock in the ballroom’s design.

In recent months, the president and first lady have made multiple joint appearances, including when she joined him for a ceremonial executive order signing. Later that month, they appeared together again for the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon.

They also arrived together for the annual Congressional Ball in Washington, D.C., in December, where the president joked that he was not fully up to speed on Melania’s latest effort at the White House. After she spoke briefly about her “new legislative initiative,” Donald quipped, “Well, I just heard about that for the first time,” adding, “I don’t know what it is she’s doing, but I know it’s going to be great for children.”