Melania Trump cut a relaxed figure at the annual Congressional family picnic held at the White House on Friday, as her POTUS husband faced down yet more allegations of sexual assault.
The President and the First Lady played host to members of Congress and their families at the annual get-together, just hours after Trump backed down from military action against Iran, and in the wake of a rape accusation by a noted writer.
E Jean Carroll, now 75, whose advice column has appeared in Elle for the past 26 years, alleges she was sexually assaulted by Trump in the Fall of 1995 or Spring of 1996 following a chance encounter at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York.
But Melania and the President brushed off the accusations and were pictured laughing as they greeted their guests before Trump delivered a speech from the South Lawn balcony.
Meanwhile, as Melania mingled with her guests, the President’s former wife Marla Maples – who he was married to at the time of the alleged assault – appeared a million miles from the pomp and pageantry of the White House event, as she performed a series of yoga headstands besides a pool in the affluent Bridgehampton suburb.
All smiles: The President and the First Lady played host to members of Congress and their families at the annual get-together, just hours after Trump backed down from military action against Iran, and in the wake of a rape accusation by a noted writer
Business as usual: Melania and the President brushed off the accusations and were pictured laughing as they greeted their guests before Trump delivered a speech from the South Lawn balcony
High-five: Melania mingled with her guests on the South Lawn at the White House on Friday, high-fiving the children of her husband’s colleagues at the annual Congressional picnic
Meanwhile: The President’s former wife Marla Maples – who he was married to at the time of the alleged assault – appeared a million miles from the pomp and pageantry of the White House event, as she performed a a series of yoga headstands next to a pool in Bridgehampton
Meanwhile: The President’s former wife Marla Maples – who he was married to at the time of the alleged assault – appeared a million miles from the pomp and pageantry of the White House event, as she performed a a series of yoga headstands next to a pool in Bridgehampton before sharing them to Instagram
The congressional picnic is an annual affair, where members of Congress and their families mingle. This year’s theme is Summer Solstice, as it fell on the first day of summer and longest day of the year.
‘We’ve never had a better-looking crowd, I must say,’ Mr. Trump joked in his brief remarks.
Guests were treated to lawn games, festival vendors, a popcorn cart, a candy station, and a ferris wheel. While the menu, prepped by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, offered includes lemon chicken, grilled plank salmon, charcoal grilled rib eye steak, and Baja shrimp tacos among a host other other side dishes.
New allegation: E Jean Carroll claims in her new memoir Hideous Men that she was raped by Donald Trump in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room (Carroll above in the dress she allegedly wore that day)
For the Trump’s the day did not appear to be marred by the writer, Carroll, who shared the story and five others with New York in a piece that also details how Les Moonves allegedly fondled her in an elevator and hints at an incident of sexual misconduct involving her former boss Roger Ailes.
She appears on the magazine’s cover in the very same coat dress that she claims she was wearing on that day in the Fall of 1995 or Spring of 1996 when a chance encounter with Trump allegedly turned into a sexual assault.
In an interview with MSNBC Friday evening Carroll, who said she would not be looking to press charges against Trump, described the alleged incident as a ‘fight’.
She said: ‘It became a fight. And it hurt. And it was against my will.’
Trump allegedly shoved Carroll against a wall, unzipped his pants and forcibly penetrated her in an attack she claims lasted three minutes.
The White House responded to Carroll’s allegations by stating: ‘This is a completely false and unrealistic story surfacing 25 years after allegedly taking place and was created simply to make the President look bad.’
A heated Trump later expounded on this statement with his own remarks on Friday afternoon.
‘I’ve never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book—that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section,’ said Trump.
‘Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda.’
He went on to note the lack of evidence, specifically that there were no eyewitnesses or video footage of the alleged assault.
President Donald J. Trump and First lady Melania Trump greet guests attending the Congressional Picnic for Members of Congress and their families at The White House, in Washington, DC on Friday
President Donald J. Trump and First lady Melania Trump greet guests attending the Congressional Picnic for Members of Congress and their families at The White House, in Washington, DC on Friday
He added: ‘Ms. Carroll & New York Magazine: No pictures? No surveillance? No video? No reports? No sales attendants around?? I would like to thank Bergdorf Goodman for confirming they have no video footage of any such incident, because it never happened.’
Trump would have been married to Marla Maples at this time, and Carroll is now the 16th woman to accuse the president of sexual misconduct. He had also recently welcomed a fourth child in 1993, daughter Tiffany.
Carroll claims she was on her way out of the store when Trump asked her for help with a gift and guided her towards the lingerie department.
Carroll was doing a daily talk show called Ask E Jean at the time for Ailes’ America’s Talking cable network, which is how she drew Trump’s attention. ‘Hey, you’re that advice lady!’ said Trump according to Carroll.
That was allegedly followed by a request from the real estate developer, whose Trump Tower is located just one block south of Bergdorf Goodman.
‘Come advise me. I gotta buy a present,’ said Trump according to Carroll, who tried to point out a few ideas in the store’s main foyer.
When they were all dismissed by Trump, she asked the age of the woman he was shopping for, prompting him to ask her the same question.
President Donald J. Trump and First lady Melania Trump greet guests attending the Congressional Picnic for Members of Congress and their families at The White House, in Washington, DC on Friday
President Donald J. Trump and First lady Melania Trump greet guests attending the Congressional Picnic for Members of Congress and their families at The White House, in Washington, DC on Friday
She was 52 at the time, two years older than Trump, and when she told him he allegedly started laughing and said: ‘You’re so old.’
He then said ‘lingerie’, according to Carroll, and the pair headed upstairs to that department.
Once there, Carroll claims she tried to diffuse repeated attempts to get her to model one of the wears by suggesting Trump try them on in a nearby dressing room. It was when they went to one of those rooms that the alleged assault took place.
‘The moment the dressing-room door is closed, he lunges at me, pushes me against the wall, hitting my head quite badly, and puts his mouth against my lips. I am so shocked I shove him back and start laughing again,’ writes Carroll.
‘He seizes both my arms and pushes me up against the wall a second time, and, as I become aware of how large he is, he holds me against the wall with his shoulder and jams his hand under my coat dress and pulls down my tights.’
She continues: ‘I am astonished by what I’m about to write: I keep laughing. The next moment, still wearing correct business attire, shirt, tie, suit jacket, overcoat, he opens the overcoat, unzips his pants, and, forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway — or completely, I’m not certain — inside me.’
Carroll claims that she fought off Trump before she was able to flee from the dressing room and out of the store.
She did not report the alleged assault to police, but did tell two friends she said, and has kept the dress ever since.
Trump in turn angrily dismissed the claims, and appealed: ‘If anyone has information that the Democratic Party is working with Ms. Carroll or New York Magazine, please notify us as soon as possible,’ he said.
‘The world should know what’s really going on. It is a disgrace and people should pay dearly for such false accusations.’