November 14, 2024
In a recent interview with French news outlet Paris Match, Melania Trump, the soon-to-be returning First Lady, expressed skepticism about current First Lady Jill Biden’s sincerity following a phone call she received after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in October. Mrs. Trump openly questioned the genuine nature of Jill Biden’s concern given the language used against her husband in recent months.
“I do question, however, whether Jill’s concern was genuine, as a few days prior she referred to my husband as ‘evil’ and a ‘liar,’” Mrs. Trump told Paris Match. She added that the political climate surrounding the 2024 election had created a hostile environment, fueled by “the onslaught of rhetoric from Democrat leaders and the mainstream media,” which she believes contributed to the attempt on her husband’s life.
Reflecting on the attack at a Pennsylvania rally, Mrs. Trump shared relief that her husband was safe but emphasized her frustration with what she described as an increasingly harsh and polarized political landscape. “They want Donald out. They won’t stop. Has the concept of ‘respect’ become antiquated?” she asked, noting how Democratic leaders have labeled her husband “a threat to democracy.” She criticized what she saw as a normalization of inflammatory rhetoric, stating, “People today are so desensitized they actually joke about killing a former US president.”
The interview went viral as news emerged that Mrs. Trump would not attend the traditional meeting at the White House with Jill Biden. In a statement, her team explained her decision, noting she felt encouraged by her husband’s return to the Oval Office to begin the transition process and wished him success.
Some sources suggested that Mrs. Trump’s refusal to attend stemmed from lingering resentment over the 2022 FBI raid on their residence at Mar-a-Lago. Despite the tradition of First Ladies meeting during transitions, Mrs. Trump had opted out of a similar meeting with Jill Biden in 2020 but did meet with former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2016.
As President-elect Trump’s inauguration approaches, Mrs. Trump’s remarks highlight the tensions and divided perspectives that have marked recent political discourse in the United States.
Sources:
- Paris Match
- New York Post
