Most people know that Melania Trump is Donald Trump's third wife - what they may not be
aware of is that the couple has been together for over 20 years, making this the longest
union Trump has had.
The perhaps-unlikely couple met in 1998 when then-Melania Knauss was just 25 years old,
but they would not wed until 2005. Consider that at the time, Trump's eldest daughter
Ivanka was in her early 20s. That would reportedly mark the two women as being born just 11 years
apart.
E! Online notes Melania Trump and Ivanka seemingly have plenty in common on the surface: They
are poised, fashionable, and of course, they share a large family. By many accounts, the
women enjoy a very good relationship. But other sources contend there is enough tension
between the First Lady and Trump's oldest daughter to cut with a knife. The truth is
only Melania Trump and Ivanka know for sure.
In the book The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, which was published
in June 2020, author Mary Jordan claims the election turned the tide on the pair's once-rosy
relationship.
The problem, allegedly, stems from the fact that Melania is not as comfortable in the
spotlight as her stepdaughter seems to be. One source speaking to the Washington Post
in 2020 said about Melania,
"At the core, I think she's a private person who's spent a lot of time adjusting to public
life."
"I could say I'm the most bullied person in the world."
"You think you're the most bullied person in the world?"
"One of them, if you really see what people saying about me."
The book notes that Trump's wife stayed in New York with their son Barron when Donald
moved to the White House after the election. Meanwhile, his daughter Ivanka was ready to
get involved right away in Washington. According to the controversial book, in Melania's absence,
Ivanka went so far as to suggest renaming the "First Lady's Office" to the "First Family
Office." Allegedly, Melania was not a fan of this unconventional idea.
Meanwhile, a year before the book was written, a source told CNN that White House life might
be putting stress on the stepmother and stepdaughter relationship, saying the two women are "cordial,
but not close."
A spokeswoman for Melania Trump, Stephanie Grisham, counters rumors the two ladies are
not close, saying they, quote, "always shared a close relationship and still do today."
But CNN contends it is possible Ivanka and Melania's roles as highly-visible presidential
family members places them in natural competition. After all, Ivanka has always played a key
part in her father's businesses, long before he became the leader of the free world. Once
Donald Trump moved into the White House, his eldest daughter was appointed as a senior
advisor.
But Grisham clarified no one is confused about the separate roles that Melania and Ivanka
play as First Lady and West Wing advisor. She said,
"The office of the first lady is focused on her initiatives and works independently, but
we often collaborate on a variety of projects with the West Wing and have a very positive
working relationship."
Separately, a White House official told The New York Times,
"The first lady and Ivanka have a great relationship. As strong independent women, each has their
own unique portfolio but they always support each [other] personally and professionally."
Rumors aside, it's worth considering what the women have actually said about one another
in their own words. Here is what Ivanka wrote in the dedication to her 2009 book, The Trump
Card, about her stepmom:
"To Melania: Thank you for your continued support and encouragement."
She also told People in 2016 that Melania is a, quote, "unbelievable mother." The mom
of three went on to tell the outlet,
"It's a really remarkable thing and she's a great inspiration to me as I raise my own
children in terms of family first and having the right priorities. Melania is very smart,
she's very warm, she's got an incredible heart."
Meanwhile, Melania is seemingly not as free about sharing her views. With that in mind,
it's worth noting that most of what has been said about her relationship with Ivanka is
unconfirmed. As Grisham told Vanity Fair about Jordan's book, it's, quote, "yet another book
about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources. This book belongs in the fiction
genre."
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