On November 3rd, the United States appoints the president. Donald and Melania Trump are fully in campaign mode. Especially surprised.
Her look is determined, her smile a little mask-like, as is so often the case when Melania Trump (50) smiles to show warmth. She wears her military green trench coat like a combat suit, but – of course – she doesn't have a corona mask on. She says she's immune to whatever threatens out there. Now she's fighting for her husband's second term – and thus for herself as the US First Lady.
In an appearance in front of Trump clientele at the Republican base in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she shows that she has mastered the rough knit. With a clear, Eastern European accent, the native of Slovenia wedges against the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (77): "His socialist agenda will destroy America and everything we have built in the past four years. We have to keep Donald in the White House so that he can can finish what he started. "
Melania has been an American since 2006
Then the First Lady, who was born in communist Yugoslavia, went to New York in 1995 and was naturalized in 2006 after marrying Donald Trump, said: "Apart from that, Americans can enjoy Biden's 36 years in the US Senate and eight years as Obamas Looking at the Vice President in the White House and wondering, is this man able to do something for you? "
Such sounds from Melania are new. So far, the president's wife has held back noticeably. When she said something, you heard completely different tones, not the usual rabble from the Trump house. In 2018, when it came to the topic of "bullying in social networks", she strongly promoted the protection of children: "We have to teach every child the values of compassion … kindness, mindfulness, integrity. This is only possible if you set a good example." "
Hardly any hymns of praise for her husband
Seldom heard of her hymns of praise for the husband like at the 2016 Republican convention, where Donald Trump ran as a presidential candidate. He fought impressively for her. "There is no one who fights for something as much as Donald. He will do that for America too." He is a great man, a great father, a great leader. Of course, her husband loves everyone, Christians, Jews and Muslims, the poor, including blacks and Latinos. "Donald thinks big, he gets things through. Our country and the world need new, strong leadership," shouted the ex-model.
Nevertheless, the speech was described as "embarrassment". It was too similar to Michelle Obama's 2008 speech at the Democratic Congress. After this criticism, she made herself scarce, even as a first lady. One could get the impression that the few appearances at the side of her exalted husband caused her unspeakable pain.
The face is usually hidden behind sunglasses
When she showed up, she hid in public: behind an expressionless face, which she usually hid behind huge sunglasses. The absurd rumor circulated among America's conspiracy theorists that it was often not Melania at all, but a doppelganger. The real Melania refused to accept the president as a figure of the people.
In the presence of her husband, she looked so depressed as you have never seen a first lady. She was rarely seen smiling on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Most of the time she dodged after the president with her head bowed, twice she fended off her husband's attempt to hold hands with her.
Bizarre behavior with the Pope too
The visit to Pope Francis (83) was no different. Donald Trump smiled, bared his teeth, pulled the corners of his mouth down contemptuously, waved around. His wife looked so serious under her black lace veil, as if she wanted to counter the hectic motor skills of her husband with at least a little dignity.
Does Melania bear the burden of her office as FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States)? Or is it the burden of being married to a Trump? Journalist David Cay Johnston, who wrote a successful biography about Donald Trump, does not believe in a happy marriage.
"We just have to look at his past. He is married for the third time. He was involved in a war of divorce with his first wife and later had little contact with his three oldest children. Only when they were adults and had to make money did they suddenly discover how wonderful Daddy is, "said Johnston in an interview with" Bild ". "They have separate bedrooms. They never spend the night together," says the US magazine "Us Weekly". Melania wanted as little to do with Donald as possible.
Angry Melania before the election
A different Melania was presented to the public a few weeks ago. She nags on the phone like her husband. In a conversation about a reception center for immigrant children, Melania allegedly said: "You say what about the children who are separated from their parents? Leave me alone!" The quote is from a book by former consultant Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who recorded Melania's phone calls.
In another scene, the first lady is upset about Christmas decorations in the White House. You have "worked your ass off" ("I put my ass off"). "Who cares about the damn Christmas stuff and decorations? But I have to do it, right?" ("Who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration. But I need to do it, right?")
Now the campaign appearance of Lancaster. Melania also speaks about Corona: "Like many of you, I also felt the effects of Covid-19 myself … I know that there are many people who have lost a loved one and have been forever met by this silent enemy have been."
Joe Biden the culprit for the corona disaster?
She blames Joe Biden and his party for this: "Let's not forget what the Democrats were focusing on when Covid-19 first came to our country. While the President took decisive measures to protect the American people, they wasted Tax dollars in a fraud impeachment. "
As a reminder: The official indictment of the Democrats was in mid-December 2019, when nobody in the USA spoke of Covid-19. Trump's quick acquittal in the Senate took place on February 5, 2020. Three days earlier, the president had said: "We pretty much switched off what comes from China." And on February 26th he announced: "If you have 15 cases – 15 cases, we will be down to almost zero in a few days. We did a pretty good job there."