“Melania: A Memoir” is published: surprising revelations from Melania Trump

Slovenian-born Melania Trump (54) was the first lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021 as the wife (since 2005) of former US President Donald Trump (78). Now she has written down her view of things in “Melania: A Memoir”. The book is published today, October 8th – and these are its most interesting revelations.

Melania Trump is descended from onion pioneers

Melania Trump, whose birth name is Melanija Knavs, writes extensively in her book about her pride in her family, particularly her maternal grandfather, Anton Ulčnik, and reveals that the family was “deported” to Austria “during the turbulent years of World War II.” returned to his home village of Raka. “Here he grew a culinary masterpiece – the famous raška čebula or raka onion, a sweet red variety that quickly became a favorite of the Slovenian population,” she writes of her grandfather. that her grandfather was the largest breeder and grower of this variety in Raka for decades.

Her life behind the Iron Curtain

Life behind the Iron Curtain seems to have been less grim for the Knavs family than most people would expect. In her memoirs, she recounts trips to Formula 1 races, family trips to Italy, skiing in the Alps, an Elton John concert, a private nanny and a fleet of vehicles that included “Ford Mustangs, German BMWs and a Ford Cougar XR -7 belonged, in addition to a collection of prestigious “Mercedes Benz”. As “The Daily Beast” further quotes, there was a “Citroën Maserati SM” that was “a foretaste of freedom.” Melania’s childhood and youth were happy, she laughed a lot.

First modeling experience at the age of six

She modeled for the first time when she was six, writes Trump. Much later, nude photos were taken, which she describes in her memoirs as an “art form.” Her modeling clients included Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, the Canadian edition of Elle magazine, Fitness and Glamor magazines and the New York department store Bergdorf Goodman. She’s modeled for a Japanese underwear catalog, an advertising campaign in Venice and, according to The Daily Beast, calls the ultimate seal of approval: “My larger-than-life image on a billboard in Times Square.”

Her strained relationship with Ivanka Trump

One of the most controversial revelations in Melania’s memoirs revolves around her relationship with stepdaughter Ivanka Trump (42). Although the two formed a united front during Donald Trump’s presidency, Melania admits that their relationship was often strained. According to Melania, Ivanka’s ambition and influence in the White House caused tension between the two. “She wanted to be seen as the true first lady,” Melania writes, adding that she often felt marginalized by Ivanka during her time in the White House.

The Stormy Daniels scandal

Perhaps one of the most personal revelations in the book concerns Melania’s reaction to the Stormy Daniels (45) scandal. While she publicly supported Donald, Melania revealed how the affair allegations hurt her behind closed doors. “It felt like a public betrayal,” she writes, according to Econo Times, giving insight into the emotional toll it took on her marriage. She further explains that although the incident pushed their relationship to its limits, they eventually reconciled.

Why did she wear the “I Really Don’t Care” jacket?

One of the most controversial moments of Melania’s time as First Lady was when, while visiting migrant children, she wore a jacket that read “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” (German: “I really don’t care, do you?”). In her memoirs, Melania clarifies that the jacket was not aimed at the children or the situation at the border, according to Econo Times. Instead, she claims the jacket was directed at the media, which she says unfairly criticized her for months.

Why did she slap Donald Trump’s hand away?

Another puzzling public moment from Melania Trump’s time as First Lady is also discussed in the memoir: when she apparently slapped Donald Trump’s hand away during a visit to Israel. Melania explains that it was simply a question of logistics, as the red carpet wasn’t wide enough for all four people walking side by side. It was a harmless gesture that was exaggerated by the media.

Your support for abortion rights

One of the most surprising revelations in Melania Trump’s memoir is her support for abortion rights. An attitude that stands in stark contrast to her husband’s politics. 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 decide for herself. She emphasizes that a woman should have control over her body and calls restrictions on abortion a restriction on personal freedom. She also supports certain late-term abortions in rare cases and advocates for “reasonable standards,” according to Times Now.

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 came from an incident in which her son Barron, 18, was the subject of online speculation about his health, according to Times Now. A comedian claimed that Barron had autism, which led to a wave of online bullying. Melania recalls how this attack on her son deeply affected her and influenced her decision to focus her public work on child safety and online behavior.

Her pen pal relationship with King Charles III.

A much more amusing story in her book is the claim that she is friends with King Charles (75). , Melania Trump is said to have a “constant correspondence” with the monarch. “We still exchange letters with King Charles to this day.” While there was no mention of when Trump and King Charles began writing to each other, photos show they met in New York in 2005. They met again when the Trumps were on a state visit to the United Kingdom in 2019. According to The Daily Beast, it was an “absolute pleasure to meet him again.” The wife of the ex-president, who denies climate change, also writes: “This time we had an interesting conversation about his deep-rooted commitment to environmental protection.”

The kiss on the hand of King Salman of Saudi Arabia

And another king appears in the book: King Salman of Saudi Arabia (born 1935). On her first encounter with a king, when she and her husband traveled to Saudi Arabia on their first ever foreign visit, Melania describes: “I was warned that shaking hands with women was not a Muslim tradition and that the king would give it to me politeness might not be shown,” she writes. “But when we met, he not only shook my hand but also kissed it. That was a promising start.” As The Daily Beast adds, this greeting is not visible in video footage or photos.

Meeting the Queen

Another senior head of state with whom she felt “really connected” was Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), to whom she poured tea at Windsor Castle with her corgis at her feet. The queen, Melania Trump tells The Daily Beast, also gave her a silver box inlaid with roses, thistles and shamrocks. Melania says it corresponds to “the intricate ceiling motifs” in one of the rooms at Buckingham Palace – the three are also the symbols of England, Scotland and Ireland.

A papal mix-up

According to “The Daily Beast” she also reveals a little embarrassment: Melania says how much she was “as a Catholic” looking forward to meeting Pope Francis (87) in the Vatican and that she had brought a rosary with her to celebrate this ” to have it blessed as a symbol of my faith and my marriage. When she met the Pope, he actually blessed the rosary and then asked, “What are you giving him to eat? Potica?” – “‘Yes, pizza,’ I replied without fully understanding him. Then I realized that he was asking about potica, the traditional Slovenian pastry.”

The 2020 election and the storming of the Capitol

But it also becomes political. According to Times Now, Melania Trump’s book also shares her perspective on the contentious 2020 presidential election and its aftermath, including the storming of the Capitol on January 6. She repeats her husband’s claims of voting irregularities, casts doubt on how long it took to count votes and suggests that many Americans still doubt the result. Regarding the Capitol riots on January 6, Melania defended her decision not to immediately condemn the violence, saying her staff, particularly her press secretary, did not fully brief her on the situation. She explains that she was busy with renovations at the White House at the time.