The status of the marriage between Donald and Melania Trump has often been a favorite target of speculation and rumors for critics and haters of the former president and first lady since even before he was first elected in 2016.

The rumors of an impending split are swirling once again among the media's gossip but, at least as of now, there has been no real confirmation that the Trump relationship is near its end, according to the EconoTimes.

That hasn't stopped speculators from positing the worst about the married pair, however, and several theories have emerged that suggest they may be contemplating going their separate ways soon.

Rumors of an impending split

The EconoTimes noted that given Melania Trump's sparse appearances in support of her husband's 2024 re-election campaign, it has been rumored that the couple are already living separate lives, with Donald focused on politics and regaining the White House while she is focused on her privacy and caring for their son Barron.

In that scenario, the former first lady is simply biding her time and waiting for an appropriate opportunity to leave the former president and make their separate lives official.

As one unnamed source once said as a grist for the rumor mill, "Melania is waiting for the right time to walk away. She knows what’s at stake, and for now, she’s staying put for Barron’s sake."

Is divorce in the cards whether Trump wins or loses?

According to the Nicki Swift gossip site, Melania Trump may be waiting to see if Donald Trump loses his bid for re-election in November, after which she may file for a divorce.

Fueling that speculation has been her general absence from the campaign trail throughout the 2024 cycle but also more recently her making public their differing stances on the major issue of abortion, in which she revealed that she is staunchly pro-choice while he has been more pro-life.

But there has also been some speculation going the other way, as the Daily Beast reported over the summer on rumors that Donald would divorce Melania if he wins re-election, largely because she doesn't want to be the first lady or live in the White House again for another four-year term.

Not everyone agrees that a split is imminent, though, and some cynical former insiders and aides to the former first couple have suggested that, though they may not love each other, both will remain together as part of a "transactional" marriage and "partnership" from which they derive certain benefits.

What would happen if ...?

The Independent joined in on the divorce speculation in July and pondered what might happen if the Trumps did split up and go their separate ways.

The former president has already gone through two prior divorces and has stated publicly that such marital splits are "pure hell" for everybody involved.

It is unclear what a dissolution of the Trump marriage may look like but there have been reports of them working out and even renegotiating prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements that will dictate how assets are divvied up, with the former first lady's primary concern being that Barron will be taken care of and financially secure for the rest of his life with money and properties.

Of course, all of these rumors and speculation are based on anonymous sources or past associates with grudges, and per all the public statements from both Donald and Melania, the pair remain devoted to and supportive of one another and have no plans to separate any time soon.