Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Topics: Politics, US News, News, Donald Trump
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Politics, US News, News, Donald Trump
Melania Trump has recalled an incident in which she 'broke' major protocol in her role as the United States' First Lady.
And naturally, she's done what many of us would have done with a piece of vitally secretive information - she's told the world all about it in her upcoming memoir.
The mother-of-one's biography - set to be released to the public in the coming months - has been widely promoted in recent weeks ahead of her husband's upcoming stint in the White House.
Donald Trump was victorious in the US presidential election against Democratic leader Kamala Harris last week, marking his second stretch in the role, and Melania's second as the country's First Lady.
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In the last week alone, excerpts of the 54-year-old's book have been released online in order to create a stir around it, including one which hears the former fashion model discuss her Pro-Choice stance on abortion - which massively clashes with her husband's Pro-Life take.
And now, another extract has shocked viewers after Melania revealed she once observed a military video which ordinarily would be reserved solely for the president - who was her husband at the time - ultimately breaking major protocol.
The clip in question saw a 2019 military raid by US officers, who captured ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
According to Melania, she was asked to report to her husband's office - the Oval Office - one day that year, before being escorted to the White House's Situation Room.
This space is reserved for the confidential monitoring of military operations, and is predominantly permitted for high-level security individuals.
Claiming she was never given that clearance, but entered the room anyway, Melania recalls the rare experience in her book.
"I was caught off guard when I received a call informing me that the president wanted to see me in the Oval Office," she pens. "I was directed to join him in the Situation Room—a first and unique experience for me."
She then adds that it was her husband who called for her to see the footage, claiming Donald, now, 78, told her that day: "'Watch this incredible action at work'."
Describing the operation - which saw al-Baghdadi executed - Melanie continued: "The mission to eliminate the leader of ISIS was a significant objective, and the successful completion of this operation would be a major accomplishment.
"This pivotal moment was one that Donald wanted to share with me."
The revelation that Melania had knowledge of the operation hasn't gone down too with high-profile members of White House staff, however.
Alluding to the same incident in his own 2023 memoir, former acting defence secretary Christopher Miller expressed uncertainty over the reception regarding Melanie's involvement.
"I wondered how it would play in the press if word got out that the First Lady had popped in to watch a major military operation," he wrote.