Melania Trump’s memoir provides readers with a few insights into her life as First Lady, although it largely keeps her personal thoughts and feelings carefully guarded. The book offers a glimpse into her views on various issues and key moments from her tenure, but it doesn’t delve deeply into the controversies that surrounded her time in the White House. Here are five key takeaways from her memoir:
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1. Her Support for Abortion Rights
One of the most surprising revelations in Melania Trump’s memoir is her support for abortion rights, a stance that contrasts sharply with the policies of her husband, Donald Trump. While the former president appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn ‘Roe v. Wade’, Melania makes it clear that she believes in a woman’s right to choose. She emphasizes that a woman should have control over her body, calling restrictions on abortion a denial of personal liberty. Additionally, she voices support for certain later-term abortions in rare cases, advocating for “common-sense standards.” Her other opinions in the book, however, align more closely with conservative values, including her opposition to transgender women participating in women’s sports.
2. Her View on the 2020 Election and January 6th
Melania Trump shares her perspective on the controversial 2020 presidential election and the aftermath, including the events of January 6th. She echoes her husband’s claims of election irregularities, expressing doubts about how long it took to count the votes and suggesting that many Americans still question the results. When it comes to the January 6th Capitol riot, Melania defends her decision not to immediately denounce the violence, stating that her staff, particularly her press secretary, did not fully inform her about the situation. She explains that she was preoccupied with her White House restoration projects at the time.
3. Her ‘Be Best’ Campaign and Barron Trump’s Experience with Online Bullying
A central part of Melania Trump’s legacy as First Lady is her “Be Best” initiative, which focused on the well-being of children and combating online bullying. In her memoir, she reveals that the motivation for this campaign stemmed from an incident in which her son, Barron, was the subject of online speculation about his health. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell suggested Barron had autism, which led to a wave of online bullying. Melania recalls how this attack on her son deeply affected her and shaped her decision to focus on children’s safety and online behaviour in her public work. She describes her frustration with social media executives, who she felt did not take her concerns seriously when she met with them to discuss online safety for children.
4. The Jacket and Hand Swat Incidents Explained
Two of the more puzzling public moments from Melania Trump’s time as First Lady are addressed in the memoir: the infamous jacket and the hand swat. The jacket, which had the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back, caused a media firestorm when she wore it on a trip to visit migrant children. Melania explains that the choice was intentional, designed to send a message to the media in response to what she saw as unfair treatment. She blames the attorney general at the time, Jeff Sessions, for the family separation policy, not her husband. As for the hand swat—when she appeared to slap Donald Trump’s hand away during a visit to Israel—Melania explains it was simply a matter of logistics, as the red carpet wasn’t wide enough for all four people walking side by side. She dismisses it as an innocent gesture that was blown out of proportion by the media.
5. Her Relationship with Donald Trump and Omission of Scandals
In her memoir, Melania offers glimpses of her relationship with her husband but avoids discussing the major scandals that grabbed headlines during her time as First Lady. For example, there is no mention of the affair Donald Trump allegedly had with a porn star shortly after the birth of their son, nor does she reference the leaked “Access Hollywood” tape in which her husband made inappropriate remarks about women. Instead, Melania portrays Donald Trump as a victim of media attacks and political adversaries. She writes about their mutual love for Elton John, how she encouraged him to go to the hospital when he was sick with COVID-19, and their friendship with King Charles III. Throughout the memoir, she frames her husband as someone constantly under siege by those trying to bring him down.
While Melania Trump’s memoir reveals some of her personal views and experiences as First Lady, it remains largely guarded, avoiding deeper discussions of the controversies that marked her husband’s presidency. The book focuses more on her public roles and grievances than on any significant behind-the-scenes insights.
