Melania slams report that she never wanted to be first lady
MELANIA TRUMP hit back at ‘Vanity Fair’ last night after the magazine claimed she did not want to become first lady “come hell or high water”.
Citing friends of the couple, the article also claimed that Ms Trump pushed her husband to run for the White House because she knew he would be unhappy if he did not.
Ms Trump has faced repeated suggestions that she was a reluctant first lady since Donald Trump (below) was elected just over a year ago.
One long-time friend of the Slovenian-born former model (47) told the magazine: “This isn’t something she wanted and it isn’t something he ever thought he’d win.
“She didn’t want this come hell or high water. I don’t think she thought it was going to happen.”
A spokesman for Ms Trump last night said the report was “salacious” and she was “honoured” by her role.
“Once again part of the liberal media, this time ‘Vanity Fair’, has written a story riddled with unnamed sources and false assertions,” said Stephanie Grisham, her communications director. “As a magazine tailored to women it is shameful that they continue to write salacious and false stories meant to demean Ms Trump, rather than focus on her positive work as first lady and a supportive wife and mother.”
Meanwhile, Ms Trump has taken charge of decorating the White House for Christmas, welcoming children to see an 18ft fir tree, 350lb gingerbread house and other festive sights. “The decorations are up!” she tweeted. “The White House is ready to celebrate! Wishing you a merry Christmas and joyous holiday season!”
In conversations with “those who know the couple”, ‘Vanity Fair’ was told that Ms Trump had “never been too crazy” about a presidential run, but had emerged as the person with “most control” over her husband in the White House.
Following Mr Trump’s victory, Ms Trump stayed in New York with Barron, their 11-year-old son, before moving to Washington during the summer.
But Roger Stone, a veteran Republican strategist and early adviser to Mr Trump’s campaign, told the magazine it was Ms Trump who had pushed the businessman to stop prevaricating and make the decision to run.
“She was very clearly the one who said, ‘Either run or don’t run’. She knew it was in his blood, he always wanted to run. She is the one who pushed him to run just by saying ‘run or do not run’,” he said.
“I don’t think she was ever too crazy about it. She said, ‘It’s not my thing, it’s Donald’s thing’. I think she understood he was going to be unhappy if he didn’t run.”
Despite any reluctance, Ms Trump has emerged as a more popular figure than her husband. In a recent poll, 44pc of Americans viewed her favourably, while Mr Trump had an approval rating of 41pc. Ivanka Trump, the first daughter, was also less popular than Ms Trump with a 41pc rating, the same as her father’s.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has decided not to campaign for Judge Roy Moore, the controversial Republican Senate candidate accused of molesting teenage girls.
Mr Moore (70) is set to contest an election in Alabama in December as the official Republican candidate, and Mr Trump had indicated he was considering sharing a stage with him. The president’s change of heart came as the issue of sexual harassment took centre stage in Washington.
Al Franken, a high-profile Democrat senator, apologised publicly over allegations he groped women while having his photograph taken with them.
“I know I let a lot of people down. Everyone counted on me to be a champion for women and I’m going to work to regain their trust. I am going to be accountable,” Mr Franken said.
In a separate controversy, Mr Trump himself was accused of privately claiming an infamous audio tape, in which he boasted about groping women, was fake.
Mr Trump told a senator, and one of his own advisers, that the tape, broadcast during the election, was “not authentic”, ‘The New York Times’ reported. He was said to have made the claims despite previously admitting the voice was his. (© Daily Telegraph London)