Melania Trump is always in the headlines but not for being a typical first lady. The president’s wife has broken quite a few presidential rules since she stepped into her role. Critics have questioned her relationship with husband. Plus, her immigrant background makes her a groundbreaking first lady. Here are a few ways Melania Trump has strayed from presidential tradition during her husband’s short time in office.
Melania Trump is always in the headlines but not for being a typical first lady. The president’s wife has broken quite a few presidential rules since she stepped into her role. Critics have questioned her relationship with husband. Plus, her immigrant background makes her a groundbreaking first lady. Here are a few ways Melania Trump has strayed from presidential tradition during her husband’s short time in office.
The last first lady to be born outside of the U.S. was Louisa Adams (the wife of John Quincy Adams), who was born in 1748. Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs, grew up near Sevnica, Slovenia. She became a permanent U.S. resident in 2001. And she was given full citizenship in 2006, about a year after she married Donald Trump.
The last first lady to be born outside of the U.S. was Louisa Adams (the wife of John Quincy Adams), who was born in 1748. Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs, grew up near Sevnica, Slovenia. She became a permanent U.S. resident in 2001. And she was given full citizenship in 2006, about a year after she married Donald Trump.
When Melania Trump was born, Slovenia was actually the northern part of Yugoslavia, a Communist country. It was run by Communist dictator Josip Broz Tito. Only a very small percentage of Slovenians were a part of the Communist Party — her father was one of them. However, Melania Trump was never an active member of the party.
When Melania Trump was born, Slovenia was actually the northern part of Yugoslavia, a Communist country. It was run by Communist dictator Josip Broz Tito. Only a very small percentage of Slovenians were a part of the Communist Party — her father was one of them. However, Melania Trump was never an active member of the party.
In 2000, Melania Trump posed nude for a cover shoot with British GQ. The magazine reportedly got many requests to put her on the cover (at the time, she was dating Donald Trump). Donald Trump requested the photos be framed and sent to his office, and GQ complied. To this day, Melania Trump still considers it one of her greatest achievements. It is written as such on the White House website.
In 2000, Melania Trump posed nude for a cover shoot with British GQ. The magazine reportedly got many requests to put her on the cover (at the time, she was dating Donald Trump). Donald Trump requested the photos be framed and sent to his office, and GQ complied. To this day, Melania Trump still considers it one of her greatest achievements. It is written as such on the White House website.
In a now-infamous interview with Howard Stern, Melania Trump publicly spoke about what it’s like to be dating Donald Trump (the interview happened before the couple got married). She admitted that she and Donald Trump have sex “even more” than just once per day. She also said that, while on the phone with Stern, she was practically naked.
In a now-infamous interview with Howard Stern, Melania Trump publicly spoke about what it’s like to be dating Donald Trump (the interview happened before the couple got married). She admitted that she and Donald Trump have sex “even more” than just once per day. She also said that, while on the phone with Stern, she was practically naked.
Most first ladies get some help with raising their children, but Melania Trump refuses. She has stood her ground about refusing to get a nanny for her son, Barron Trump. “I like to be hands on,” Melania Trump told People. “I think it’s very important.” Donald Trump agreed with her decision, saying, “If you have too much help, you don’t get to know your children.” Melania and Donald Trump also say they instilled the idea that alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs are bad for their children and have advised that none of them start drinking.
Most first ladies get some help with raising their children, but Melania Trump refuses. She has stood her ground about refusing to get a nanny for her son, Barron Trump. “I like to be hands on,” Melania Trump told People. “I think it’s very important.” Donald Trump agreed with her decision, saying, “If you have too much help, you don’t get to know your children.” Melania and Donald Trump also say they instilled the idea that alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs are bad for their children and have advised that none of them start drinking.
Rumors have swirled over whether or not Melania Trump was actually happy about Donald Trump winning the presidency — especially since Fire and Fury was released. In 2017, a family friend told Vanity Fair that becoming the first lady was the last thing Melania Trump wanted. “I don’t think she thought it was going to happen,” the friend said. However, both Melania Trump and her husband have since said that she was extremely happy about her husband’s win and was always rooting for him.
Rumors have swirled over whether or not Melania Trump was actually happy about Donald Trump winning the presidency — especially since Fire and Fury was released. In 2017, a family friend told Vanity Fair that becoming the first lady was the last thing Melania Trump wanted. “I don’t think she thought it was going to happen,” the friend said. However, both Melania Trump and her husband have since said that she was extremely happy about her husband’s win and was always rooting for him.
When Donald Trump moved into the White House in January 2017, Melania Trump stayed behind in New York. She said it was because she wanted Barron Trump to finish out the school year at his Upper West Side school. However, some critics think the reason goes deeper. Some said she was press-shy and living in the White House would only make her uncomfortable. Others said it was because she never wanted Donald Trump to win the election in the first place.
When Donald Trump moved into the White House in January 2017, Melania Trump stayed behind in New York. She said it was because she wanted Barron Trump to finish out the school year at his Upper West Side school. However, some critics think the reason goes deeper. Some said she was press-shy and living in the White House would only make her uncomfortable. Others said it was because she never wanted Donald Trump to win the election in the first place.
Perhaps Melania Trump’s biggest rule-breaking moment was when she arrived at the State of the Union separately from the president. Melania Trump decided to ride with those she had invited to the State of the Union rather than ride with the president. The choice once again established her independence from her husband. Plus, she wore a white pantsuit, which some believe was an homage to suffragettes.
Perhaps Melania Trump’s biggest rule-breaking moment was when she arrived at the State of the Union separately from the president. Melania Trump decided to ride with those she had invited to the State of the Union rather than ride with the president. The choice once again established her independence from her husband. Plus, she wore a white pantsuit, which some believe was an homage to suffragettes.
Critics were atwitter about the Trumps’ Christmas card, according to Daily Mail. Its message was, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Naysayers felt the Trumps should have been more politically correct and used an inclusive greeting like the Obamas’ card had, which wished everyone a “joyous holiday season.”
Critics were atwitter about the Trumps’ Christmas card, according to Daily Mail.
Its message was, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Naysayers felt the Trumps should have been more politically correct and used an inclusive greeting like the Obamas’ card had, which wished everyone a “joyous holiday season.”
In Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff wrote about how Melania and Donald Trump would sometimes go without contacting each other for days at a time during the presidential campaign. What’s striking about this is that the couple wasn’t even separated by a significant distance. They were living together in Trump Tower, reports People. “He and Melania spent relatively little time together. … Often she did not know where he was, or take much notice of that fact,” wrote Wolff.
In Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff wrote about how Melania and Donald Trump would sometimes go without contacting each other for days at a time during the presidential campaign. What’s striking about this is that the couple wasn’t even separated by a significant distance. They were living together in Trump Tower, reports People. “He and Melania spent relatively little time together. … Often she did not know where he was, or take much notice of that fact,” wrote Wolff.
Melania and Donald Trump might share a name, but that doesn’t mean they share everything. Unlike most married couples, the pair sleeps separately — as in separate bedrooms, reports The Guardian. Wolff says the Trumps are the first couple in the White House to do this since the Kennedy administration. They also use separate bathrooms. In an interview with Howard Stern, Donald Trump expressed his relief that he’s never heard or witnessed Melania Trump pass gas or use the bathroom.
Melania and Donald Trump might share a name, but that doesn’t mean they share everything. Unlike most married couples, the pair sleeps separately — as in separate bedrooms, reports The Guardian. Wolff says the Trumps are the first couple in the White House to do this since the Kennedy administration. They also use separate bathrooms. In an interview with Howard Stern, Donald Trump expressed his relief that he’s never heard or witnessed Melania Trump pass gas or use the bathroom.
Melania Trump’s hand swat seen around the world was definitely another awkward moment. In May 2017, the Trumps touched down in Israel, and when they got off the plane, Donald Trump reached for his wife’s hand. But Melania Trump quickly swatted away his hand. People instantly thought maybe they were mid-fight when they arrived in Tel Aviv. While most high-profile couples would just hold hands to make things look good, Melania Trump had other ideas. The very next day, the couple arrived in Rome, and it was take-two of Melania Trump refusing to hold her husband’s hand.
Melania Trump’s hand swat seen around the world was definitely another awkward moment. In May 2017, the Trumps touched down in Israel, and when they got off the plane, Donald Trump reached for his wife’s hand. But Melania Trump quickly swatted away his hand. People instantly thought maybe they were mid-fight when they arrived in Tel Aviv. While most high-profile couples would just hold hands to make things look good, Melania Trump had other ideas. The very next day, the couple arrived in Rome, and it was take-two of Melania Trump refusing to hold her husband’s hand.
Only one week after Donald Trump criticized skeptics of Melania Trump’s happiness, she added fuel to the fire with her Christmas wish. During a visit to the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., a 10-year-old boy asked her, “If you could spend the holidays anywhere in the world, where would you go?” She replied, “I would spend my holidays on a deserted island, a tropical island — with my family.” Intentional or not, we’re definitely picking up on the first lady’s suggestion that she is tired of being in the White House. Twitter users didn’t let it pass, either. Comedian Deven Green tweeted, “Melania Trump’s Christmas wish is for her family to go to a deserted island. Funny, that was mine, too.”
Only one week after Donald Trump criticized skeptics of Melania Trump’s happiness, she added fuel to the fire with her Christmas wish.
During a visit to the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., a 10-year-old boy asked her, “If you could spend the holidays anywhere in the world, where would you go?” She replied, “I would spend my holidays on a deserted island, a tropical island — with my family.” Intentional or not, we’re definitely picking up on the first lady’s suggestion that she is tired of being in the White House. Twitter users didn’t let it pass, either. Comedian Deven Green tweeted, “Melania Trump’s Christmas wish is for her family to go to a deserted island. Funny, that was mine, too.”