Louise Linton is courting the spotlight once again, with DC’s newest housewife appearing on the cover of local society magazine ‘Washington Life.’
The Scottish-born wife of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is featured in a six-page spread inside the magazine’s September issue, where she gives her first stateside interview since moving to the capital back in January.
That sit-down came just a few days after she was widely criticized for lashing out at a woman on Instagram, and Linton used the opportunity to apologize for her actions.
‘I deserved the criticism,’ said Linton, who was likened to Marie Antoinette and Cruela de Vil after her social media meltdown.
Her outburst came after Jennifer Miller, a working mother with three children, called Linton ‘deplorable’ in the comment section of an Instagram photo she posted of her and Mnuchin deboarding a government plane on August 21 following a trip to Kentucky.
Linton responded by openly mocking Miller’s financial situation, with the Newlywed then suggesting that she and Mnuchin were more valued members of society because of their wealth and the taxes they pay.
Great Scot: Louise Linton appears on the cover of the September issue of ‘Washington Life,’ a DC society magazine (above), and gives her first interview since moving to the capital
The crying game: ‘Whether I’m in a ball gown or a pair of jeans, it’s not about me, or what I’m wearing, it’s about what I can be doing to support and empower others,’ said Linton (above in a $10,000 bridal dress)
Darling dauphine: The 36-year-old wife of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, 54, wears two $10,000 bridal gowns (one above)
‘My post itself and the following response were indefensible. Period,’ explained Linton in her interview.
‘I don’t have any excuses, nor do I feel any self-pity for the backlash I experienced.’
She then went on to state: ‘I sincerely take ownership of my mistake. It’s clear that I was the one who was truly out of touch and my response was reactionary and condescending. I wish I hadn’t spoken in such a patronizing tone. It was an out of character, knee-jerk reaction, and I felt so awful about it that I removed it.’
Linton also made her account private for a few days, returning to Instagram just last week by reposting a photo and text shared by ‘The Atlantic’ detailing the efforts to save animals in Texas following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.
Linton said at the start of the interview that she purposely kept a low profile in the wake of the incident to try and learn from her mistakes.
‘Something like this requires extreme thought and introspection and I had to absorb the criticism and figure out how I can influence the world in a positive way instead of how I did by making that post,’ said Linton.
She said later in the interview that her actions on social media at the time were out of character, and something that will not happen again in the future.
‘The social media Louise of that week was not me. I should have stuck to posting pictures of rescue dogs and daily life,’ Linton, just a few days before her Hurricane Harvey post.
‘I don’t know why I felt pressure to portray an image that was all about the clothes. It was short lived, and I got my slap on the wrist pretty quick.’
Wooed: Linton also wears a $1500 Jason Wu dress (above) in her six-page spread
Not a good look: The sit-down came just a few days after Linton was widely criticized for lashing out at a woman on Instagram by bragging about her wealth and pricey wardrobe (above)
Back in action: Linton rejoined Instagram last week after an extended absence, reporting about Hurricane Harvey (above)
Linton had no problem portraying an ‘all about the clothes’ image for ‘Washington Life’ however, appearing in two bridal gowns from Indes di Santo that retail for approximately $10,000 each as well as a $1500 blue sheath designed by Jason Wu.
She did acknowledge that fact however later in the interview, stating: I see the irony of making an apology in a ball gown! But it would be dishonest to proclaim that I’m never going to go to another social function.’
Linton went on to say: ‘Whether I’m in a ball gown or a pair of jeans, it’s not about me, or what I’m wearing, it’s about what I can be doing to support and empower others going forward.
She then closed out the interview by proclaiming: ‘I hope my actions speak more for me in the future than my hashtags!’
The article notes that Linton also requested that the executive editor of the magazine join her for tea before she agreed to the interview, noting she ‘wore no makeup for the occasion’ and was outfitted in ‘exercise pants and a SoulCycle sweatshirt.’
And for those wondering how Linton takes her tea, she served ‘a blend of Earl Grey and green tea topped with vanilla soy milk’ for the meeting.
That chat came before the Instagram controversy, and Linton did initially cancel before then agreeing once again to the interview.
Linton was a bit ‘distracted’ during the sit-down as she fielded phone calls from her publicist and husband according to the story, but ultimately decided that this was the best way to explain her side of the story.
The controversy is still not over either, as the Inspector General of the Treasury Department is now looking into the trip to ‘determine if all applicable travel, ethics, and appropriation laws and policies were observed.’
Linton and Mnuchin stopped in Louisville for a luncheon before moving on to Fort Knox, where they watched the solar eclipse with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Cabinet members generally travel on commercial flights to meetings and events, with government aircraft used only on official business.
If commercial flights are unavailable cabinet members will at times be permitted to travel on a government plane, which because of the eclipse could have been the case the day that Mnuchin took his wife with him to Kentucky.
Off with her head: Linton played Marie Antoinette in an episode of ‘CSI: NY’ back in 2007 (above)
May-December nuptials in June: Linton, 36, and Mnuchin, 54, with the Trumps and Pences at their wedding
Tartan-ing it up: Linton in 2010 (left) and 2012 (right) before she began her relationship with Mnuchin
The newlyweds have been inseparable ever since their June wedding, but it was still quite a surprise for some to see that Linton accompanied her husband on a government plane for his trip to Kentucky.
Linton outted herself as having joined Mnuchin by posting the Instagram photo, in which she tagged her designer outfit in the post as well, a mix of high-end brands that included Tom Ford, Valentino, Roland Mouret and Hermes.
‘Great #daytrip to #Kentucky!’ Linton wrote under the photograph.
She then added hashtags for various pieces of her expensive wardrobe, listing #rolandmouret, #hermesscarf, #tomford and #valentino,’ wrote Linton.
Miller responded by writing in the comments: ‘Glad we could pay for your little getaway. #deplorable.’
‘Have you given more to the economy than me and my husband?’ asked Linton in response to Miller’s comment.
‘Either as an individual earner in taxes OR in self sacrifice to your country?’
A statement was later released by a spokesperson for Mnuchin, which said: ‘The Mnuchins are reimbursing the government for [Linton’s] travel, and she does not receive compensation for products she mentions.’
That was enough to satisfy Miller, who said of the White House’s response: ‘I’m actually glad. I’m glad that, you know, they are reimbursing all of us, the government, the taxpayers for this trip that she used to advertise for brands that, I don’t know, if her friends own them or what.’
Linton released her own statement at the time, saying:’I apologize for my post on social media yesterday as well as my response. It was inappropriate and highly insensitive.’
Miller meanwhile still seemed to be in disbelief that her comment had resulted in a this very public feud.
‘Honestly, it was probably just a weak moment for me,’ said an incredibly composed and well-spoken Miller in an interview with CNN one day after the social media spat.
‘I was frustrated already by some stories I had just read about the Secret Service running out of overtime money because of the excesses of the administration’s travel schedule, and then saw this woman who I didn’t know who she was.’
Miller continued: ‘I knew who the Treasury Secretary was, so I assumed it was his wife, getting off of a government plane for what I assumed was a government trip and basically advertising for all of these European, you know, high-end brands that your average person couldn’t afford.
She went on to add that it was even worse because it had been done in Kentucky, which is ‘one of the poorest states in our country.’