It’s funny, to me, to see the White House grasp at just about anything to try to control at least one small fraction of the narrative around Emperor Baby Fists. Most of the time, Trump is f–king up his own newscycle, because he’s such a petulant baby who doesn’t understand, well, anything. At the same time Donald Trump was visiting the Western Wall in Israel, we learned that Michael Flynn was going to plead the fifth rather than comply with a congressional subpoena. Just as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu finally gets what he always wanted – a far-right nutjob American president who is malleable on Middle East policy – Trump had to f–k it up by reminding everyone that he leaked deeply classified information to Russia, and that the information originated in Israeli intelligence. And just as we became obsessed with Melania swatting away her husband’s hand, Politico reported that Melania is actually so good at being her husband’s “watchdog.” This is the narrative the White House would have you believe.
Melania Trump’s spent her first few months as first lady in New York, only rarely appearing in Washington or speaking at events. Yet friends and aides say she’s keeping a close watch from her gilded apartment in Trump Tower on how her husband is portrayed in the press — and that she’s growing increasingly worried about the anonymous sniping from West Wing staff. Like President Donald Trump, these people said, Melania Trump is an avid consumer of cable news. She often tracks the news of the day and will alert her husband to stories she thinks make him look bad.
She has raised concerns that some on his communications and press team aren’t doing enough to defend him, according to aides and sources close to the president. She’s been especially troubled by background quotes in which West Wing aides criticize the president, and she’s called the president to discuss it. Her quiet role as private watchdog is at odds with her public persona. Melania Trump has been seen as generally aloof and removed from her husband’s political operation since he announced his campaign in 2015, but as his administration has been consumed by infighting and outside investigations, she’s grown increasingly vocal about the perceived shortcomings of staff surrounding the president.
“Melania loves the president unconditionally, definitely, she really cares about the president, she feels a kind of protection,” said her longtime friend and former modeling agent Paolo Zampolli, who introduced the couple in 1998. “The main concern to the president and the first lady is that these leaks are unacceptable.”
Aides and friends of the president describe Melania Trump as one of several people he calls at night to hear how the dysfunction in his White House is playing out beyond the Beltway, including billionaire businessmen Carl Icahn, Rupert Murdoch and Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy.
“She’s very private and she’s very smart. Anyone who thinks she’s a mannequin doesn’t get it,” said longtime Trump associate Roger Stone. “She has excellent instincts into who is trying to exploit their influence with him.”
In recent weeks, her concerns have centered on White House press secretary Sean Spicer, whose role as an on-camera briefer is expected to change after Trump returns from his overseas trip.
“She was really concerned that Spicer was not doing a good job, that they were not proactive in defending the president,” said one outside adviser who speaks to the president regularly. ”The leaks bother her. She believes a lot of people are more interested in serving themselves than him.”
Do you buy this version of Melania? The devoted wife who consumes cable news at a steady clip and tells her husband how things are being received out here in the real world (her penthouse apartment in Trump Tower is the real world)? Yeah, no. I mean, maybe I’ll buy that Melania watches cable news, although there’s no guarantee that she’s watching Fox News. I see her more as a CNN person, don’t you? And she’ll watch, barely understanding what is happening. But she doesn’t like the look of that Sean Spicer guy. She probably doesn’t like Sarah Huckabee Sanders either, too rural, too quaint. I think Melania probably judges things like a beauty pageant, much like her husband. Also:
SCOOP: Three White House staffers have been identified for leaking classified info. POTUS will fire 'multiple people' when he returns to DC.
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) May 22, 2017
Is someone setting Melania up to be the fall guy? Will they say “Melania advised the president to fire all of these people”? That would be funny.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Why the hell is Ivanka wearing a fascinator in Israel?
She’s orthodox, so if she’s not wearing a wig like the other two women in the picture, she needs to cover her hair with something.
Tbh I don’t care what she is doing, it’s her religion. But do think she looked v ugly with that “hat”. What puzzled me is why was Drumpf wearing a kippah????!!!!!!!! He is not a Jew.
And today, she is wearing all white with nothing on her head so there goes that theory.
I am a little fuzzy on my orthodox rules, but I’m pretty sure your hair needs to be completely covered. A fascinator doesn’t cut it.
I have not been to the Wailing Wall in 30 years, but I seem to recall men are required to wear a kippah.
Megan, thanks, that explains it.
But he wore a kippah after the Wailing Wall visit as well, IICR.
Not all Orthodox are alike. I’ve known a quite seriously Orthodox Jewish family where the women didn’t feel compelled to cover their hair in public. Their congregation was dropping the male/female separate sections during services also, and that was way back in the 1970s. The husband said it was hard to get used to, but a good idea.
Also it’s common for non-Jews to wear the kippah at Jewish services and holy places too, I assume. Synagogues here generally keep a supply handy for visitors.
There is a requirement for orthodox Jewish women to cover their hair. They can either opt for a wig or a scarf. Some women choose not to do this full time, Ivanka is one of them. At the Kotel or the Western Wall and other holy sites women will cover their hair, hence Ivanka covered her hair at the wall. Trump is wearing a kippah as a sign of respect to the Jewish people, as orthodox men must also cover their head at the kotel. It is optional for non jewish men to cover their head but very respectful if they do.
Jwoolman is exactly right.
She looks like she is going to a funeral.
Yep. That’s what crossed my mind!
Never mind the hat – what is up with that dress and the boob scarf?
I wonder if Melancholy is so tired of him always going ahead of her that she is not going to let him be seen trying to gallant for once?
Why would she, after all the bad treatment? He is not gallant, he treats her like a piece of shit, only meant to be walking behind because she is a woman…however, a woman knows the captor in her bones, – and refuses his advances!
Sounds more like people around Trump noticed that video of Melania slapping his hand away and all the rumours about how their marriage is strained are getting louder. The White House has to show how Melania is a devoted wife to the President before she moves to Washington in June. It would not be so easy to hide a strained marriage with both living in the same town.
Exactly What I’m thinking too!
Exactly, transparently this.
I’m wondering if, come June there won’t be some delay in moving or if she does, how long it will take to leak that they sleep and live separately.
The fact his wife clearly hates him makes me smile.
Also the comment about ” Spicer not doing a good job” seems rather interesting. I am thinking that is a subtle way of saying he will be let go shortly. I am thinking sometime in June.
IDK, Trump and his staff seem to speak to each other through the press. It may just be a message to Spicer to stop leaking stories.
Megan: that is funny and sadly accurate.
Why wouldn’t Spicer want out of the job, it’s clearly not something he has any aptitude for. That new woman is better suited, but again, why would she want to be the intermediary between a dissatisfied public/press and a raving lunatic?
Trump, at some point is going to have to stop firing everyone he’s hired. It’s just adding to the aura of incompetence.
Yes, I do not believe one word of this.
I’m not saying that I buy this story, but FWIW it was originally published last week before the hand-swatting incident.
She avoided his hand again on the next trip, there is a video , another one of her in a blue suit or dress, coming out of the plane and he goes to reach for her hand and she’s moves her hand away..
I don’t think she can stand him.
Exactly. Curious timing, this coming out a day after the swat-seen-round-the-world.
No kidding! More deflection now that she has AGAIN been captured on film swatting him away. And what’s with the ginormous belts? Wy does she always look like a secret agent in a comedy? Or like she’s on safari?
I think Melania has been googling ‘Stylish Middle Eastern Women’. The belted black ensemble and cape evening dress are straight out of the Sheikha Moza of Qatar play book , except she always wears turban like headwear and the Safari/shirtwaist look is a common style for Queen Raina of Jordan who always wears her hair loose.
@ Pandy : yeah, I noticed the similar belts, all with that huge buckle. She seems to have it in different colors but one for each outfit. With those and the safari suit, she really seems to be loving the ’70’s fashion on this trip.
I think she looks good for an ex-model Manhattan matron but I don’t feel it’s a suitable look for a First Lady on a foreign tour.
She does look very Secret Squirrel.
Does anyone remember the video of Baby Fists going down a few steps and hanging on to Angela Merkel for dear life? He hates steps and has issues with stairs. He went to grab Melancholy’s hand at the top of the airplane steps -,and abruptly she had to fix her hair!
Melania can’t cope. She has her sunglasses on at all times.
But she is rocking her “Mrs. T” belt in that first shot. She pities us fools! And the sunglasses conceal the eye rolls and side eyes.
Thanks for making me smile!!!
I love using my Mr. T voice. My kids have no clue what’s come over me.
At least she can hide behind a beautiful elegant body and expensive clothing. She hides.
If Melanoma is tracking negative stories re Emperor Zero and reporting them to him, they must have FaceTime on constantly.
“Melanoma” lol.
Right? When I read that story I thought she’d have a much easier time if she just told him about positive stories instead… should take her about 5 minutes a week.
At least someone in the White House is watching real news.
Sorry, not buying it. If she cares so much, why has she been in NYC all this time?
This is such a transparently obvious attempt to deflect away from the hand swatting yesterday. Unless she is being drugged and physically restrained and forced to watch the news, I am willing to believe that it doesn’t interest her in the slightest and that she isn’t going to go to any great length to help prop him up. That’s what he has his daughter-wife and a whole gang of little toadies for.
And yes, having another convenient fall guy for any bad “advice” Babyfists is given that ends up being unpopular. I’m reasonably certain that their marriage will end shortly after he leaves office (whenever that is) or if everyone’s worst fears come true and he stays in office for the foreseeable future, I could see her being increasingly sidelined. People aren’t really invested in her as a First Lady like they were with Michelle Obama and any popularity she has is solely because she is married to Cheeto Mussolini and not because she’s done anything popular as FLOTUS.
This article has been on Politico for a couple of days now. So unless someone is clairvoyant it’s not about the handswatting.
Perhaps Melania realized she has to police her husband if he is not to be impeached. Good luck to her.
Sounds more like she is policing the staff, not him.
Yes, if you believe the narrative, i.e. “She believes a lot of people are more interested in serving themselves than him.” Which is a laugh because since when is Trump serving anyone but himself?
This sounds like a deflection, but a pretty stupid and tone deaf one. We’re supposed to think more of her because she watches the f^cking news and reports on it to Trump? She still hasn’t come close to even meeting the minimum when it comes to being an engaged FLOTUS.
Not buying any of this at all. This story conveniently is put out there almost days after hand swatting incident.
Also, given the history of Trump, I don’t buy that he would really listen to anything she says because he does not value women’s opinions at all.
Edit: landed in the wrong place.
This is not a diversion, she does this. She is an enabler. She is upset that she did not get any of that Saudi money like Ivanka. She has been looking to grift like the rest of them and it ain’t happening. Remember her statement from her lawsuit with The Mail.
Damage control BS and very much ineffective at that. I want more on the leaks.
Indeed. His office leaks like a sieve (pasta strainer, etc.). I’m in my ’50’s and I can’t remember a White House that leaked information this badly. And it’s not classified info that is leaking; it’s just the bitchy stuff!
So she is just another person more interested in the leakers than the information contained therein? How charming.
If she’s watching the news obsessively, it’s because she’s like the rest of us wondering if he’s had a stroke yet.
👏🏼😂 I needed that laugh!
Melanie’s belt is so gauche.
Tres gauche
If melania is watching cable news at all it’s just so that she can laugh at his fvckups as hard as I do. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a secret twitter account where she piles on him like thousands of us do. Watchdog, my foot.
+1 – at least I know that’s what I would be doing.
That is beneath her. She has people who do that. Just like she has people who watch the news to give her bullet points for when she speak with Permanent Cheetos Dust.
Melania “loves the president unconditionally.” And Trump fired Comey because he was mean to Hilary!!??
I think it should have read: she loves Trump’s money unconditionally.
I believe Melania is a gold digger but I give her credit. She went after a big fish and she got him. It’s not a path I would have taken EVER for someone as yucky as Trump but you can’t say she didn’t achieve what she went after. She’s a long way from Slovenia now.
“She has excellent instincts into who is trying to exploit their influence with him”
TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE!!
well if she is trying to avoid stories that make him look bad, she has not had much luck yet.
The entire administration is a clusterf**k, but of course Melania knows how to run the country.
Seth Meyers said last night that she was now up to mid-January 2017 with sifting through all he negative news stories. Hardy-har-har (cause it’s twroo).
Sure she does. This revelation was leaked last week a few days before the swat heard around the world yesterday. But fer shure to illustrate their wonderful tapestry of existential lurve. Ain’t it grand.
I don’t believe she understands spoken English quite well enough to understand everything they’re saying on cable news, but even more than that, I don’t believe for one hot second she CARES enough to do that. She didn’t want him to be president. She hates all this.
Besides, why would she watch that stuff or talk about it on the phone if there is a chance that her son will hear more of it than he already gets from people in school? I would instead imagine that she keeps both herself and her son as far away from such things as possible. If I were her, I would put a Trump-blocker on the child’s computer… Really, a kid would find it all very disturbing even if his relationship with his father might be minimal.
I believe Barron is most probably well aware of his daddy’s character flaws and the shortcomings of a world-class narcissistic parent. Hopefully he is stunted emotionally or far enough on the spectrum to an extent that it not pain him enough to define him.
Bobbiesue- yes, but he just turned 11. He needs to be shielded as much as possible. My father was a doofus loser, too, but this kind of thing would still have bothered me. Must be nearly impossible today, though.
Can’t imagine why she would seriously be preparing to move to D.C., considering Donald might be gone from the White House by summer. He looks pretty awful and stressed, as he should at this point. Not a happy camper. He might save the big meltdown for the meetings in Brussels. He will be so far out of his element there. He was uncomfortable enough with Merkel. Imagine being surrounded by Merkels. Even if they try to dumb things down for him, he’s not going to understand much. Merkel had to explain that he couldn’t negotiate a trade agreement with Germany but had to go through the EU eleven times before he seemed to get the idea.
Jwoolman: This would make for HIGH-larious dramedy were humanity not being dragged to hell by its short hairs all in the name of God.
Bobbiesue- yes, it really sounds like an American version of a political Britcom at this point. Maybe we could get the people who did Yes, Minister interested.
If anybody did a movie with this plot line, everyone would say it was too outlandish.
Hahaha! Yeah, sure, to all of that!
I believe the story a few weeks ago that she really only cares for her son and wants nothing to do with politics.
I agree. Besides, I think E! and the Shopping Channel are more Melania’s speed than any cable news network.
Melania Divorce rumours http://www.inquisitr.com/4237101/melania-trumps-divorce-papers-signed-not-filed-and-settlement-reached-claims-former-white-house-staffer/
Hope Hicks rumour. She traveled to Israel on Trump’s plane http://www.3rd-solution.com/2016/06/the-mystifying-triumph-of-hope-hicks.html
No don’t buy it she does it for her husband. She may like her husband is obsessed to see what they are saying about her. Think she much smarter than she has been portrayed in the media. Girl is smart enough to stay away from him as much as possible, others haven’t caught on to it yet. Also think she shares many of husbands opnions, she isn’t innocent in being the quite side piece and think she encourages him in some of his beliefs. Trump chooses people that think like him and agree with him.
I can believe Melania does obsess over cable news to monitor her husband’s image. Wouldn’t you want to want to be prepared for or try to prevent his next embarrassing incident too? I think she knows she has to protect him from himself, if only because she’s married to the guy and has the future of their son to think about.
I’d so much rather she knows she has to protect her country and the world from him, if only because she has the future of her son and his world to think about.
what happened to her “anti-bullying” cause? They’re leaking truths, isn’t this bullying?
This is a complete work of fiction. This woman has done nothing as first lady, because we all know she doesn’t want that job, so no, she’s no one’s watchdog.
Fake News. Sorry she’s more interested in watching Entertainment Tonight (is that still on?) than all those news channels.
If you have to fire people you just hired, it means you’re not spending enough time & thought on the hiring process.
Melania’s looking after her and Baron’s best interests. That’s all.
I believe one line: “She often tracks the news of the day and will alert her husband to stories she thinks make him look bad.”
Translation: calls and mocks him.
The only reason Trump wants to get rid of Spicer is because of SNL. When SNL wasn’t making fun of Spicer for 2-3 weeks, Trump was very proud of Spicer and bragging about how Spicer brought in the ratings. Just as I predicted, the moment SNL stepped in and highlighted all those things we had observed about Spicer, Trump decides to get rid of him. Why is Trump making it look like it’s all Melania’s idea to get rid of Spicer?
Melania can’t even stand to be in the same house as Trump, and they want us to believe that she is in NY watching cable news and alerting him every time there is a negative story because she is just that dedicated to him? They also want us to forget about the previous reports from WH aides about Trump watching cable news all day long. This is just an attempt at damage control. Why? Is is because the hand swatting? Is Melania not making a great impression on world leaders as they wanted us to believe? Are they trying to blame Melania for Trump’s twitter rants?
I bet you’re right about SNL.
It’s terrifying that the leader of the free world makes decisions which impact hundreds of millions of people based on tv ratings.
I always get the feeling she’s sort of just trying to pretend none of this is even happening LOL I’m sure she loves her son. But I don’t get the impression she cares about this charade of an administration. I think she’s just trying to be patient, waiting for him to die.
Ivanka has a really tiny head. Like, abnormally small. Compare her head to Melania’s.
Melania is probably the same as us: Glued to the television, eagerly waiting for the magic word: IMPEACHMENT. Just for different reasons. Maybe Trump should fire HER – Spicey is at least showing up for work.
If you actually bet on The Boss Baby marrying a 4th time WHILE STILL IN OFFICE (!) – you get 16/1. Maybe I should improve my non-existent retirement plan this way. After all, George Soros is shorting against him in huge quantities also…
Why do these people keep saying that there is no evidence of Trump or his campaign people colluding with Russia? Trump went on tv and asked the Russians to hack Hillary. And they did it. What more evidence do they need? The people who have the power to stop Trump are too afraid to do anything and keep making excuses.
It’s also like how they keep saying that there isn’t any evidence of Trump obstructing justice, even though Trump told Lestor Holt that he fired Comey to stop the Russian investigation and the notes from Trump’s meeting with the Russians stated that Trump told the Russians that he fired Comey to stop the investigation. When is enough going to be enough.
I heard some democrats like Nancy Pelosi saying that we need more evidence to impeach Trump, what evidence is she looking for? Again, Trump’s own words are his worst enemy.
It’s also crazy how the bots are trying to change the narrative. Trey Gowdy tried to pull what Ted Cruz did to Sally Yates on Brennan and he lost, but the bots are changing the narrative to make it look like Gowdy outsmarted Brennan.
Also think that these senators need to stop saying that there is no evidence of collusion because the biggest example of Trump colluding with the Russians is when he openly asked the Russians to hack Hillary.
Why do the GOP complain about independent investigations when they are not even focusing on Russia and Trump in these hearings? Once again they used these hearings to protect Trump and distract by bringing up Obama or unmasking and leaks. Just like Lindsey Graham, Nunes, Ted Cruz, and Burr, Gowdy is putting party before the people. Gowdy and Conaway need to be removed from the HIC because they are showing that they are very biased.
I believe what will happen is that Cheeto will be induced by republican leaders to resign. He will be offered a full pardon by incoming president pence. That’s how they got rid of Nixon. This will not happen until trump is convinced that he is personally liable of being convicted of a crime. Bringing in outside lawyers to advise trump will speed the process along. They can inform him that ignorance of the law is no defense. God knows what a pence presidency would look like. Perhaps he and mother will install a large concrete tablet of the ten commandments on the white house lawn?
Sorry if this has already been posted, don’t have time to read through all comments. Melania does the hand thing AGAIN!🤣🤣🤣
http://twitter.com/dailymail/status/867085279861125120
She looks miserable in this marriage, I seriously doubt they’re talking on the phone every night.