Former First Lady Melania Trump issued a rare video statement on September 14, discussing the FBI’s 2022 raid on her Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. The statement, promoting her soon-to-be-released memoir, describes the search as a violation of privacy and stresses the importance of safeguarding American rights and freedoms.
In the video, which showcases images of the extensive Trump family property in Palm Beach, Florida, Melania expressed her surprise at the government’s intrusion into her privacy.
Melania disclosed that the FBI search involved going through her personal items and expressed that her experience serves as a cautionary tale for all Americans. She emphasized the need to protect our liberties and rights.
The August 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago was part of a probe into allegations that former President Donald Trump had improperly kept classified documents. The search reportedly resulted in the recovery of at least 300 classified papers, containing sensitive US intelligence data.
Prior to the raid, the Justice Department had made attempts to recover the remaining classified materials from the former president’s team. In May 2022, a subpoena was served for these documents, and in June of the same year, a lawyer from Trump’s team confirmed in writing that all classified documents had been retrieved. Nevertheless, officials remained doubtful that all classified material had been returned, leading to the decision to conduct the raid.
As a result of the search, Former President Trump faced 40 charges relating to the alleged mishandling of classified records and impeding the government’s efforts to retrieve them. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the case against him is “politically motivated.” In July 2023, a federal judge dismissed the case, though an appeal against the dismissal is currently ongoing.
Donald Trump has reported that his wife felt deeply violated by the FBI’s search, which involved agents going through her closet and leaving her personal belongings in disarray.
This recent video statement is one of few public appearances made by Melania, who has kept a low profile while her husband endeavors to return to the White House. This is the second video she has released in the pasts two weeks, both promoting her upcoming book, “Melania,” set for release on October 1, 2024.
Besides discussing the Mar-a-Lago raid, Melania also recently released a video questioning the official narrative of an alleged assassination attempt on her husband. In the video, she expressed her concerns about the July 13, 2024 incident, which has been condemned as a significant failure of the US Secret Service. She voiced her frustration over the lack of action by law enforcement, questioning why the shooter was not apprehended before the incident. She hinted at a deeper story and called for the truth to be revealed in her video.
Melania Trump’s forthcoming book is anticipated to provide a unique perspective of her time in the White House, detail her advocacy work, and share untold stories and images. The memoir is expected to delve into the causes she holds dear and offer an insider’s view of her experiences as First Lady.