First lady Melania Trump's absence has been the subject of media speculation and even a bevy of online conspiracy theories. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo Melania Trump to return to public eye Monday

First lady Melania Trump will return to the public eye Monday, co-hosting an event with President Donald Trump for Gold Star families.

The first lady's appearance at the 5:30 p.m. reception will be her first at an official event since she joined the president, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence in greeting three Americans formerly imprisoned in North Korea in the early morning hours of May 10. Four days later, it was announced that she was hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center to treat a "benign kidney condition." She was released from the hospital five days later.


Trump's absence has been the subject of media speculation and a bevy of online conspiracy theories.

Amid those whispers, Trump herself addressed the situation on Twitter on May 30.

"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she wrote on her official @FLOTUS account. "Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!"

Other than her message chiding the media, the White House has been largely silent on the first lady's status.

Gold Star families are relatives of U.S. military members who died in battle.