Melania Trump’s Reluctant Journey to the White House: Behind the Scenes of 2016
( GETTY IMAGES)
Melania Trump, the former First Lady of the United States, has always maintained a reserved and private demeanor in public. However, reports suggest that behind the scenes, she was far from enthusiastic about her husband Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential run. In fact, she was reportedly ‘terrified’ because she was confident he would win if he pursued the office.
To understand Melania’s perspective, it’s important to look at Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence. His political aspirations began gaining momentum in 2011 when he started to engage with the far right by pushing the debunked ‘birther’ conspiracy against then-President Barack Obama. Although he became a controversial figure in American politics during that time, as reported by The Guardian.
Donald ultimately decided not to run in 2012, stating, “After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the presidency…I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half-heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.”
By 2016, however, the landscape had changed, and Donald Trump was ready to make a serious bid for the presidency. While Trump publicly claimed to have consulted with his family, insiders revealed a different narrative. A former campaign aide shared that Melania “never wanted this, and never had any interest,” because she was sure her husband would win and was ‘terrified’ of how it would impact their lives. Melania herself later expressed her concerns, saying, “I said to him, ‘You really need to think because our family life will change.’ The three of us will change. I know what it takes, traveling and all that stuff…”
Despite these reservations, Stephanie Grisham, then communications director for the First Lady, stated, “Mrs. Trump supported her husband’s decision to run for president and in fact, encouraged him to do so. She was confident he would win and was very happy when he did.” However, Melania’s reluctance to fully engage in the campaign was apparent. Unlike her predecessor, Michelle Obama, who actively campaigned across the country, Melania remained largely in the background.
As per USA Today, Melania’s primary focus appeared to be her son, Barron, and maintaining a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos of the campaign. “Barron has always been a first priority in [Melania’s] life. Of course, she is worried and concerned about [Donald’s] legal issues, but she has not done anything more to protect Barron now than she ever did. She has always put him first. She is a good mother,” a source revealed.
Her limited involvement in the campaign was not without controversy. During the 2016 Republican National Convention, Melania delivered a speech that was later found to contain portions plagiarized from Michelle Obama’s 2008 address. In her speech, Melania said, “From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect.
They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily lives…Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” These moments reflect Melania Trump’s complicated and often reluctant role in her husband’s political life, one marked by a desire to protect her family and maintain privacy in the face of overwhelming public scrutiny.
