Melania's Proposal From Donald Trump Was Just As Closed Off As The Rest Of Their Relationship

President Donald Trump might have no trouble going into detail about some topics, but when it comes to his relationship with wife Melania Trump, the POTUS has often been less talkative. The first lady seems to have gotten that memo, too, since she rarely gives much insight into their relationship, and the Trumps have become even more tight-lipped since first entering the White House in 2017. Given that they like to keep the details of their relationship under wraps, it's hardly surprising that the proposal that kicked off their marriage was a private affair. However, it's hard to believe that their private proposal took place in public — even if the cameras couldn't see it.

The pair got engaged back in 2004, and Donald chose to pop the question on none other than Met Gala night — at the event itself. To seal the deal, the businessman presented the former model with a 15-carat diamond ring, which she proudly wore before the cameras for the rest of the evening. (Of course, it also landed on our list of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings in the world.) "It was a great surprise," she told the New York Post shortly after. "We are very happy together." For those not in the know, the Met Gala is the fashion event of the year, and it's become increasingly exclusive and headline-worthy as the years have gone on. It's an odd choice of proposal setting for two people who value their privacy so dearly, but it makes sense that they did it behind the scenes, not in front of the cameras.

When you consider the press coverage and guest list of the Met Gala, even before the days of social media, the decision to get engaged there when you like to keep your relationship closed off from the public is puzzling. We can only guess that Donald Trump's decision to propose there had less to do with practicality and more to do with the fact that it would've made the question harder to say no to, given it's such an impressive and exclusive location. 

And the POTUS wouldn't be alone in that thinking since a few proposals have taken place at the Met Gala over the years. Notably, 2 Chainz proposed to Nakesha Ward in front of the world on the famous Met steps in 2018, and then Laurie Cumbo was proposed to on the steps in 2022 after only recently becoming New York City's commissioner of cultural affairs. Also, the Met Gala fell on April 26 in 2004, which happened to be Melania Trump's birthday, so there may have been a few reasons why Donald thought it was the best proposal setting, regardless of his distaste for intrusion into his private life.

The 2004 Met Gala was Melania's first time at the prestigious event, but over the years, she and Donald continued to grace its highly photographed red carpet. While it's a symbol of status across multiple industries, the Met may also have become an important tradition for them following the proposal in 2004, so it must have been disappointing when Anna Wintour declared on a 2017 episode of "The Late Late Show With James Corden" that Donald would never be invited back to the event. They attended for the last time in 2012, and while that chapter of their lives may have closed, they've maintained their policy of keeping their relationship details to themselves. 

Other than the specifics of the engagement ring, we don't know many details about the Trump proposal itself, such as where exactly at the Met Gala it took place and what Donald Trump actually said to Melania (then Knauss) at the time. Reports have emerged that the president did get down on one knee to ask the question, but they've given us few other insights into the night — or their relationship at all, for that matter. Their 2005 wedding took place before the era of Instagram and camera phones, so only a few photos from inside the event have ever been seen. One thing we do know is that Melania Trump's honeymoon destination after marrying Donald was surprisingly underwhelming.

In a 2010 feature with "Entertainment Tonight," Melania opened up about her family life, giving fans a glimpse into her relationship dynamic. "I say I have two kids. I have a big boy, Donald. And I have a little boy, Barron, so my hands are full now," she said, adding, "First role for me is being a mommy and a wife, and then a businesswoman." Years later in an interview with Fox News, the FLOTUS unexpectedly shared that her husband doesn't sleep much and also doesn't wear pajamas. But overall, these glimpses have remained few and far between, especially after the couple entered into politics. 

Speaking of celebrity engagements, here are the small details from Taylor Swift's engagement photos we can't stop thinking about.