Melania Trump: ‘Unaware’ on Jan 6

Former first lady Melania Trump said in an interview Thursday that she was “unaware” of the ongoing riot at the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, because she was too busy photographing a rug in the White House.

In an interview with Fox News before the House Select Committee was to hold its second televised hearing on the riot Thursday evening, the former first lady also refuted her ex-chief of staff Stephanie Grisham’s recent claims that Trump refused to condemn the violence when asked to do so.

“I was fulfilling one of my duties as first lady of the United States of America, and accordingly, I was unaware of what was simultaneously transpiring at the US Capitol building,” she told Fox News.

“Had I been fully informed of all the details, naturally, I would have immediately denounced the violence that occurred at the Capitol building,” Trump said.

Trump said it was her “duty” as first lady to archive the contents of the White House, but the White House curator and the White House Historical Association are mainly responsible for keeping a record of the contents of the White House collection.

The former first lady said that “this is a very significant undertaking and requires great care, attention to detail, and concentration — both in the planning and execution”.

She said she organized a team of photographers, archivists and designers several months in advance and had scheduled Jan 6 to complete the work.

Trump said that “this is a very significant undertaking and requires great care, attention to detail, and concentration — both in the planning and execution.”

The Fox interview comes after Trump’s former chief of staff Stephanie Grisham revealed in a text message exchange last month that Trump declined to condemn the Jan 6 violence in a statement.

“Do you want to tweet that peaceful protests are the right of every American, but there is no place for lawlessness & violence?” Grisham purportedly texted Trump.

“No,” Trump purportedly replied. The first lady condemned the violence five days later.

Trump told Fox that Grisham “failed to provide insight and information into the events surrounding’’ Jan 6.

Grisham wasn’t in the White House on Jan 6 and her behavior in her role as chief of staff “ultimately amounts to dereliction of duty”, the former first lady told Fox.

“Traditionally, the first lady’s chief of staff provides detailed briefings surrounding our nation’s important issues,” she added.

Grisham reacted to Trump’s interview with Fox News in a tweet: “Lol. That’s truly all I’ve got.”

Grisham has said the first lady’s behavior contributed to her decision to resign on Jan 6 as chief of staff, a role she held since April 2020. They have rejected Grisham’s statements and characterized her as a disgruntled former staffer.