As Donald Trump was preparing to retake office as the 47th President of the United States, his wife, Melania Trump, shared some surprising comments about her previous experience moving into the White House.
Melania has been pretty busy as of late - whether that's partaking in her second state visit to the UK earlier this month donning her absolutely massive hat, spawning conspiracy theories around body doubles and 'stealing the show' during Trump's lengthy address to the UN this week.
But it's comments she made earlier this year about the Obamas which have seemingly resurfaced once again, and she didn't hold back.
Back in January, the 55-year-old was set to return to Washington, DC, with her husband being officially sworn back in on the 20th.
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The inauguration itself featured performances from the likes of Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood, and even The Village People.
Ahead of her second stint as first lady, Melania sat down for an interview with Fox & Friends, where she opened up about the challenges she faced back in 2016.
She admitted: “The first time was challenging”.
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“We didn't have much of the information. The information was... upheld for us from previous administration. But, this time, I have everything!”
Her remark appeared to be directed at the Obama family, who handed over the White House to the Trumps in January 2017.
This is not the first time Melania has criticised the outgoing administration for allegedly making things difficult.
In her memoir, she claimed: “It is customary for the incoming first family to start the moving process when the outgoing first family leaves for the holidays in December. Sadly, our team did not receive the access we had requested to visit the White House residence in December.”
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According to her account, the Trumps allegedly received no response for weeks despite reaching out to arrange a convenient time.
Melania added: “When we finally received the information, it was filled with errors. This delayed the planning process, and I was only able to begin renovations... once we were already in the White House. Those three weeks would have been crucial for ... starting preparations.”
Her comments stand in contrast to what Michelle Obama has previously shared.
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In her best-selling memoir Becoming, the former First Lady explained that she had reached out to Melania to offer her support, just as Laura Bush had once done for her. Michelle later told ABC News that Melania never took her up on the gesture.
At the time, Melania’s communications director Stephanie Grisham addressed the situation in a statement to CNN, insisting the first lady did not need any guidance from Michelle.
She wrote: “Mrs. Trump is a strong and independent woman who has been navigating her role as First Lady in her own way.
“When she needs advice on any issue, she seeks it from her professional team within the White House”.
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Despite the tensions surrounding her first stay, Melania confirmed she’d be based at the White House during her husband’s second term, while also spending time in New York and Palm Beach.
She clarified: “My first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a First Lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on Jan. 20, you serve the country.”
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics
Ben Williams