Donald Trump's marriage to his Slovenian-born, former model wife, Melania, has been the subject
of public scrutiny long before he moved into the White House.
Regular fixtures of the tabloids, the power couple has dealt with everything from public
lawsuits to accusations of sexual assault.
And when Donald finally pulled the trigger on his long-threatened presidential run, things
only intensified.
Melania's modeling photos were used in crass attack ads from political competitors.
Every public appearance and campaign speech she gave was put under a microscope, even
once resulting in an embarrassing plagiarism scandal.
She was also discovered to have liked a tweet that included disparaging remarks about her
marriage.
The media's scrutiny of their relationship intensified even further during a May 2017
trip to the Middle East.
When the president reached out to hold her hand, Melania was caught on camera apparently
swatting it away.
Only time will tell if their relationship can withstand this brutal test, but there
are things from the couple's past that can help us understand what got them to this point.
Here's what's really going on with Donald Trump's marriage.
Inauguration and the internet
Of all the viral moments that stemmed from Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, one
GIF seemed to tell all about his marriage.
In the moment, Melania was captured offering a sweet smile to her husband when he looked
at her, only to instantly transform into what looked like sadness when he turned back around.
There was also their awkward dancing at the inaugural ball during which Melania seemed
to be leaning away from Donald.
And, of course, probably the most meme-able moment was when they arrived at the White
House to be greeted by the Obamas.
Trump bounded out of the car and went right up the steps, leaving Melania to sadly walk
around the back of the vehicle and up the steps on her own.
This was the first impression that the new President and First Lady made to the millions
watching at home.
While each incident can easily be chalked up to nervousness about the big day, some
serious questions about their relationship began to swirl.
A marriage of convenience
By almost every account from people who knew Donald and Melania when they first met, the
pair were suited for each other for one reason: convenience.
According to a Vanity Fair article that cited several sources close to the couple, Donald
met Melania in 1998 at a party he attended with another date, Norwegian cosmetics heiress
Celina Midelfart.
While his date was in the bathroom, Donald gave Melania his phone number, and they connected
a few days later.
For Donald, he got an attractive younger woman whose Eastern European upbringing instilled
in her the traditional values and sense of independence he was looking for in a partner.
For Melania, who is 24 years younger than Donald, what she got was obvious.
According to a source that told the New York Post, "She ran into Donald just at the right
time.
She was just about out of money, at the end of her rope and about to move back to Eastern
Europe."
In Melania's own words, their arrangement has always been one of mutual respect.
During an interview with Parenting, she said, "We have a great relationship.
We are both very independent.
We know what our roles are and we are happy with them.
I think the mistake some people make is they try to change the man they love after they
get married.
You cannot change a person.
You accept the person.
He loves business — he breathes business.
I love that about him, I love that.
Doesn't bother me.
I am very independent.
It is important to understand each other.
If you need to change someone it will never work."
And Melania's not the only one who spends a lot of time away from Donald.
A hands-off approach
Part of Melania's independence apparently includes fielding most of the parenting responsibilities
involved with raising their only son together, Barron.
Melania told Parenting, "He didn't change diapers and I am completely fine with that.
It is not important to me.
It's all about what works for you.
It's very important to know the person you're with.
And we know our roles.
I didn't want him to change the diapers or put Barron to bed.
I love every minute of it."
But it's not as if she was blindsided by Donald's "relaxed" attitude towards being a dad.
Before Barron came along, Trump and Melania went on Larry King Live in 2005, and the real
estate mogul sat next to his new bride and said:
"If you have the money having children is great.
Now i know Melania, I'm not gonna be doing the diapers, I'm not gonna be making the food.
I may never even see the kids, frankly"
At least she had fair warning.
Break up and make up
In January of 2000, Donald confirmed that the rumor that he and Melania had split up
was true in the most Donald Trump way possible: surrounded by models at a Miss U.S.A pageant
party.
He said, "Melania is an amazing woman, a terrific woman, a great woman, and she will be missed."
Melania later admitted to DuJour magazine that the split was partially due to Donald's
consideration for running for president at the time.
But this was actually their second breakup.
According to Melania's friend and former roommate, fashion photographer Matthew Atanian, Donald
and Melania had a falling out very early in their relationship.
He revealed, "She had some trust issues with him at the beginning.
She was telling me that she wouldn't have it, he was back to his old ways.
She kept her apartment to have her own space because of this."
They only stayed apart for a few months that time as well, but if accusations of infidelity
and Donald's political aspirations are still any kind of a sticking point, they may be
in for a rocky road ahead.
"I know..
I know who I am.
And if ah..
A man doesn't want to be with me or I don't want to be with a man so.."
"Goodbye and good luck."
"That's right."
On the defense
There have been multiple occasions in which Melania has found herself explaining her husband's
unsavory comments.
There was, of course, the time when she denounced his infamous Access Hollywood scandal by saying,
"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me.
This does not represent the man that I know.
He has the heart and mind of a leader."
Melania also found herself explaining Donald's many appearances on The Howard Stern Show
in which he discussed, among other things, their sex life, her bathroom habits, and the
changes her body went through during pregnancy.
He reportedly said to the shock jock, "You know, they just blow up, right?
Like a blimp — in the right places.
In her case, the right places.
I mean she really has become a monster — in all the right places.
I mean monster in the most positive way.
She has gotten very, very large — in all the right places."
But according to Melania, Donald would never have said those things if he wasn't being
"egged on."
She said, "Many times, I gave him an advice and I didn't agree to do all the tapes on
Howard Stern, with Billy Bush because I know those people.
They hook him on.
They try to get from him some — some unappropriate and dirty language."
They obviously don't have to try too hard, though.
MIA FLOTUS
Choosing to delay her move to the White House so Barron can finish his school year in New
York City, Melania is one of the few first ladies to make such a decision in the history
of the presidency.
The wives of William Henry Harrison, Franklin Pierce, and Harry Truman also delayed their
moves to Washington for various reasons.
And while the decision to not interfere with Barron's education is a reasonable one, there
are still many questions as to what level of involvement Melania will have with the
unofficial duties of the East Wing.
Back in 1999, Melania envisioned a much different vision for her role as first lady.
She showed the New York Times, "I would be very traditional.
Like Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy.
I would support him."
But 17 years later, and with the reality of Donald's campaign looming overhead, Melania
drastically changed her tune, telling GQ, "I chose not to go into politics and policy.
Those policies are my husband's job."
As of the making of this video, Melania has yet to announce any major initiatives.
And with Ivanka, Donald's daughter from his first marriage, taking an official role as
special advisor to the president and performing duties typically reserved for the first lady,
like meeting with foreign dignitaries at the White House, and making official state-sponsored
visits abroad, the notion that Melania will eventually fully embrace her status as the
First Lady looks less and less likely.
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