A new book by acclaimed author Michael Wolff offers an in-depth exploration of Donald and Melania Trump’s marriage, especially during the 2024 presidential campaign. Wolff refers to their relationship as “the most public marriage in the nation,” highlighting its many challenges.
The book, “All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America,” presents a marital relationship characterized by prolonged separations and meticulously planned public appearances. A “Mar-a-Lago patio confidant” quoted in the book said frankly, “She (expletive) hates him,” adding that the source was “bewildered that this needed saying.”
In the 18-month campaign preceding the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July 2024, Melania Trump was noticeably absent from the campaign trail. Wolff reveals that she declined to deliver what was planned as a “showstopper” speech at the convention. Although she joined her husband on stage following his acceptance speech, she remained silent.
Wolff’s narrative unveils a campaign staff often unsure of Melania Trump’s location. Her presence was sporadic, appearing mainly for public dinners or events with Trump. Adding to the mystery, even those closely involved with the campaign did not know where she resided, leading to speculations that she had her own apartment in Trump Tower, separate from her husband.
As the campaign began contemplating a second Trump term, the idea of a “part-time First Lady” was proposed. The suggestion was that Melania would split her time between the White House and Trump Tower in Manhattan to be near her son Barron, who was studying at New York University. This arrangement, according to Wolff, epitomized “an American marriage on a coolly transactional basis.”
The First Lady’s absence became particularly evident during Trump’s legal proceedings. When campaign staffers asked her to join her husband at his first indictment in New York, she reportedly laughed and said, “Nice try.” She was also conspicuously absent during the Stormy Daniels trial, where Trump was facing 34 felony charges for making hush money payments to the adult film actor.
According to Wolff, Melania’s tendency to make infrequent public appearances was a pattern established during the 2017-2021 White House years. Her time at the White House and Mar-a-Lago was limited. Despite her prolonged absences and minimal involvement in public engagements, the media did not focus more on her elusive presence during that time.
In October 2024, Melania published her book, “Melania,” catching the Trump campaign by surprise. Wolff mentions that campaign officials were unsure if the timing was intended as “a diss or a kiss (of course from afar)” to Trump. Her book painted a generally positive image of her husband, including his “thoughtful” practice of regularly checking on her health through calls to her doctor.
The day before a significant rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, Melania unexpectedly offered to introduce Trump. Wolff interprets this as either a “pity move” or a “clear olive branch.” On election night, she “sent word that she would not appear with him unless it were an outright win,” a condition which was ultimately met.
In November, a group of Trump campaign figures, including co-chairs Susie Wiles, now the president’s Chief of Staff, and Chris LaCivita, issued a strong refutation of Wolff’s book: “He is a known peddler of fake news who routinely concocts situations, conversations, and conclusions that never happened.” They advised others to “completely disregard whatever nonsense he eventually publishes.”
Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, responded directly to the book’s claims with sharp criticism: “Michael Wolff is a lying sack of (expletive) and has been proven to be a fraud. He routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination, only possible because he has a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain.”
Wolff’s 2018 bestseller “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” stirred considerable controversy for its revelations about the Trump administration’s internal disorder. Despite not naming sources, it includes detailed accounts of Wiles’ and LaCivita’s tenure in the campaign, reinforcing his claim of accurate sourcing.