In a tweet Tuesday, President Trump pushed back against a report that said the first lady never wanted the job and, more importantly, didn’t think her husband would win.
‘Melania, our great and very hard working First Lady, who truly loves what she is doing, always thought that, “if you run, you will win,”‘ Trump wrote. ‘She would tell everyone that, “no doubt, he will win.” I also felt I would win (or I would not have run) – and Country is doing great!’
Trump’s retort comes after Vanity Fair published a deep dive into Melania Trump’s East Wing, with one longtime friend telling the magazine, ‘This isn’t something she wanted and it isn’t something he ever thought he’d win.’
President Trump pushed back on claims published in a Vanity Fair article that said Melania Trump never wanted to be first lady – and never thought he’d win the White House
President Trump (left) wrote on Twitter Tuesday that first lady Melania Trump (right) loves her job and knew he would win
President Trump also retweeted his wife Tuesday morning, showing scenes from yesterday’s Christmas decorations reveal
‘She didn’t want this come hell or high water,’ the unnamed source added. ‘I don’t think she thought it was going to happen.’
But it did, and Melania Trump has slowly ramped up efforts to fit into the traditional first lady’s shoes.
This week she showed off her skills as a holiday homemaker, unveiling the White House’s Christmas decorations.
On Monday, Mrs. Trump walked through the executive mansion, stopping to talk to children who were doing craft projects in nearly every room, as a pack of reporters stood nearby.
She was greeted by ballerinas dancing to the Nutcracker Suite as the White House’s foyer was decorated with simple pine trees frosted with snow and icicles, an homage to the famous ballet.
Trump didn’t speak to the press then or when she was sent out to the North Portico, alongside 11-year-old Barron, to welcome the Christmas last week.
Instead she made small talk with her guests, asking them about pets at home and whether their Christmas lists were complete.
The Vanity Fair story gives off the impression that, at best, she’s warming up to the role and, at worst, she despises it.
Her office put out a statement yesterday pushing back on the claims, saying the story is ‘riddled with unnamed sources and false assertions.’
However one named source, longtime Trump political strategist Roger Stone, noted that it was likely Melania Trump’s influence that eventually did get the now-president to run.
‘She was very clearly the one who said, “Either run or don’t run,”‘ Stone told the magazine. ‘”Your friends are tired of this striptease. Every four years you talk about it,”‘ Stone continued, in what likely was a paraphrase.
Stone gave the first lady credit for getting her husband off the political sidelines, though also confirmed her own wariness for it.
‘I don’t think she was ever too crazy about it,’ Stone said.