Melania Trump, former First Lady and spouse of ex-President Donald Trump, has released her memoir called “Melania.”
Published by Skyhorse Publishing on October 8, 2024, the memoir provides an insightful perspective into her tenure as First Lady, her pre-politics life, and the public scrutiny she endured.
At age 46, Melania Trump assumed her role as First Lady of the United States following her husband’s 2016 presidential win. Despite her high-profile position, she kept a relatively low public presence, often sidestepping traditional first lady responsibilities. Among her few public appearances during the 2024 campaign, she stayed beside her husband at the Republican National Convention but opted not to speak.
With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, Melania Trump has broken her silence. In a series of promotional videos for her upcoming memoir, she discussed her nude photoshoots, her motherhood role, and her grievances with the media. She also criticized the 2022 FBI raid of her Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where agents were searching for classified documents.
In one of these videos, she expressed her shock at the government’s intrusion into her privacy, labeling it a “warning” for all Americans.
The timing of Melania Trump’s memoir release is noteworthy. As the November 5 election approaches, she remains a potential future first lady. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to Melania Trump, has noted this timing, remarking, “She is capitalizing on the time she has left before the election. Her [market] value is gone if she is no longer a prospective first lady.”
Her memoir offers insights into her personal life, including her modeling career and relationship with Donald Trump. Though her husband’s two impeachments, criminal charges, and the hush money scandal involving adult film actor Stormy Daniels have sparked controversies, Melania has remained largely silent about these matters. Her memoir focuses on her experiences as a spouse and mother, along with the public scrutiny she endured.
Melania’s choice to publish her memoir through Skyhorse Publishing, rather than a major New York publishing house, marks another deviation from the standard. Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama collaborated with larger publishers and secured multimillion-dollar deals for their books. Melania’s team reportedly had discussions with several major publishers, but failed to reach an agreement, ultimately choosing Skyhorse, a company known for publishing controversial figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Woody Allen.
Financially, Melania Trump has maintained activity since exiting the White House. Her husband’s August 2024 financial disclosure report revealed that she earned $330,000 from the sale of NFTs and $237,500 for speaking at a Log Cabin Republicans event in Palm Beach, Florida.
Despite maintaining a relatively low profile, Melania Trump has been criticized for several controversial decisions as First Lady. Her renovation of the White House Rose Garden, which removed iconic features from the Kennedy era, continues to face backlash from historians. Additionally, her choice to wear a Zara jacket with the phrase “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” during a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border remains a significant mark on her public image.
Robert Watson, a historian and expert on first ladies, pointed out that Melania’s tenure as first lady broke many traditional norms associated with the role. “One of the cardinal rules for a first lady is to do no harm… in this respect, Melania comes up short,” Watson wrote in an email.
With Election Day nearing, the release of Melania Trump’s memoir may serve as her final chance to influence her public legacy. Whether she will return to the White House as first lady or retire from political life will be determined by voters.