In an article that verges on embarrassing, CNN recently published a puff-piece on the increasingly invisible Melania Trump- American “First Lady” as known in terribly outdated parlance, a column that seemed to bend over backward to apologize for the fact that Melania can’t be bothered by even the most minimal elements of the job, preferring instead to simply pamper herself in New York or Florida, depending on the season. She does, damn well, want all the trappings. Despite this being what many have come to expect from Melania, it doesn’t need to be this way, and CNN is under no obligation to polish over some of the outrage that should befall Melania.
The column notes what we all know to be true; Melania has basically rejected the job, doing less than half the number of public appearances than in her first term, a term she was notably monickered as “Rapunzel” by some.
The first lady is rarely seen publicly. She did not accompany her husband when he delivered her letter to President Vladimir Putin during last week’s summit in Anchorage, nor was she present at the White House days later when he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. She’s made public appearances just 19 days so far this term, compared to 40 at this point during the previous. Her East Wing staff this time around is a fraction of her first-term team and that of her predecessors.
Personally, I have no trouble with the idea of a first-spouse saying that they are not going to play a public role. There is no requirement to do so, and a simple announcement from the beginning that the executive spouse will not be doing official appearances or duties seems perfectly fine to me. But it is one or the other. There is an obligation to either declare that there will be no official role and thus no staff, no pretend events, or you do the job the right way, using whatever public capital is available for a few causes. It seems Melania wants it both ways by eschewing any responsibility but reserving the right to pick spots to do the bare minimum as far as appearances go.
And then CNN turned into a P.R. firm, insisting that Melania has a lot of inside power over Trump, that they are a normal couple (Yeah, right), and that Melania cares deeply about children:
In her letter to Putin, Trump obliquely referenced the “darkness” around children impacted by war, telling the Russian leader he has the power to “singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter.” She did not specifically name Ukraine, but thousands of Ukrainian children have allegedly been abducted by Russia since the war began.
This is a perfect example of Melania insisting that she get it both ways. Putin is involved in one war, and he has already committed war crimes in bombing innocent civilians and taking Ukrainian children. Yet, Melania couldn’t even be bothered to actually cite the war and Putin’s role in it. If Melania cared about children, she should have set aside ChatGPT and written a real letter with a real threat to get in front of microphones and start pointing at the cause of the suffering. Instead, the letter was released as P.R. for Melania, having the MAGA following fawning over her “concern,” but done so in a way so as to guarantee that Putin feels no obligation to change a thing for her, doesn’t even embarrass him.
Russia apparently sees the advantage to having Melania (sort of) in the White House:
While the president’s recent comments about his wife’s strong reactions to watching the war unfold on TV have sparked criticism from Russian state media, they’ve also spawned appreciative “Agent Melania Trumpenko” memes in Ukraine. And after her letter to Putin, Zelensky hand-delivered to Donald Trump a letter from his wife to the US first lady.
It is probably pure fantasy but at a time when Donald Trump is so obviously steering the nation into the arms of Russia and its antiquated laws and GDP (Along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and even China, over Europe, Canada, South Korea, and Japan), it would be comforting to not have yet another Russian-nicknamed-agent in power in Washington. But that’s clearly what we have.
As has been written many times, she appears to be more distilled “Trump” than even he at times, the letter nearly proves it, all about Melania, not a shred of inconvenience to Putin. And again, it isn’t the absence of appearances that is so offensive; it is the demand that she get all the perks of having the microphone while still stealing as much time as she can get to pamper herself, luxuriate for Melania’s comfort, and no one else’s. As we read from her staffers from the first term, Melania cares only about Melania. Even the close relationship with her son seems more out of neediness for something “hers” than any loving supervision or presence, though that is a guess. It certainly fits the pattern.
Expect nothing different from here on out for her “term” (Whatever that means, now). Indeed, if anything, expect fewer appearances at anything beyond the spa and the dermatologist’s office. Melania cares about Melania. Do not buy that she cares any more about children than anyone else. She certainly doesn’t care enough to extend herself at all. CNN should be ashamed. Talk about the useless use of a platform.
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Remember the “look” Melania gave Trudeau during Trompty’s first term. Hey, given her fat-ass slob of a husband who we’ve learned literally stinks it’s no wonder there was some lust/desire in that gaze. Well, Trudeau’s gone but Zelensky is young, fit and handsome and the last thing Trumpty wants is cameras catching a “look” from Melania. A ‘Why can’t I get fook a handsome, smart guy like heem instead of haveeng pretend to luv Donald?’ In other words, Trump probably made sure the Secret Service wouldn’t allow Melania to be within a hundred miles of DC!
My BIL, an actor in SF said his friends in NYC told him Melanoma had not lived with Donnie John for two years at the time of his election the first time.
Trump traitor trash doesn’t just wear stupid ball caps and stupid T-shirts.