What To Know About Melania And Donald Trump's Marriage
What's the truth about Melania and Donald Trump's marriage? For the couple, first came love, then came marriage, then came an unexpected presidency. But being one of the nation's most-watched couples has not been easy for the Trumps; their union had been criticized because of their 24-year age gap and Donald's track record of divorce and alleged sex scandals.
Donald and Melania's love story began in New York, where the billionaire businessman met the Slovenian model in a nightclub. Although Donald is known for his gregarious nature and Melania is considered shy, the pair shared an undeniable chemistry from the start. Five years after their fateful first encounter, the pair said "I do," and a year later, they expanded their family with the birth of Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump.
Donald and Melania's relationship was put to the test during Donald's run for presidency, as allegations emerged that he acted inappropriately with other women. Ever the faithful wife, Melania dismissed the accusations and stood by her husband. However, there's still speculation that they have a loveless relationship.
Melania and Donald Trump met at a New York nightclub
Donald first laid eyes on Melania Trump in 1998 at the Kit Kat Club in New York City, after being introduced by an Italian businessman. "It was a great chemistry and energy, something was there right away," Melania revealed on "Larry King Live" (via YouTube). But in an interview with the New York Post, Melania's friend Edit Molnar said that Donald was there with another woman, so Melania didn't entertain his advances.
But Donald was smitten. "I'd seen her before, on the runways and things, but her beauty utterly amazed me," he told Tatler. Even though his playboy friends told him not to waste his time because they'd already tried to court her, he persisted and asked for Melania's number. "But I didn't give it to him," Melania recalled. "Because I knew who he was and I guess ... he had all these ladies, so I want to see what kind of number he will give to me."
Although she was skeptical, Donald didn't give her his business line, but his personal digits. She called him a few days later and the rest is history.
Melania reportedly broke up with Donald early on in their relationship
It wasn't smooth sailing for Melania and Donald Trump in the early stretch of their relationship. Prior to Melania, Donald was in a relationship with model Kara Young. Donald and Young dated for two years in the late 90s. Well, Young wasn't exactly gone when Melania and Donald kicked things off.
Melania was entering his Trump Tower apartment building so that they could set off for Mar-a-Lago when she spotted Young leaving his building. This wasn't going to work for Melania, and she dumped Donald on the spot. Ronald Kessler, who wrote "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game," told People about the situation. "He had dated Kara for almost two years, and what did Melania do? She broke up with him," Kessler said. "She said, 'Screw that, I don't care about all his billions of dollars, I am breaking up,' and she called [Donald's former butler Tony Senecal] at Mar-a-Lago to send all her clothes back."
The situation created skepticism for Melania, and so she walked away from Trump. Her former roommate, photographer Matthew Atanian told GQ: "She had some trust issues with him at the beginning." Atanian went on: "She was telling me that she wouldn't have it, he was back to his old ways. She kept her apartment to have her own space because of this." However, it didn't last long and within about six months, the two were back together.
Their wedding was a lavish, star-studded affair
Melania and Donald Trump tied the knot in a $42 million ballroom at their Mar-a-Lago estate, which Donald had built from scratch. The compound was replete with 24-karat gold moldings, custom-made crystal chandeliers, and marble floors covering 11,000 square feet. Their guest list included Bill and Hillary Clinton, Billy Joel (who performed), Anna Wintour, Heidi Klum, Derek Jeter, and Shaquille O'Neal.
Melania, who was 34 at the time, wore a Christian Dior gown with a 13-foot train which reportedly cost $200,000. In fact, she graced the cover of Vogue wearing what the magazine called "the dress of the year." Melania's engagement ring, from Graff Jewelers, cost $75,000.
At the time, Donald was 58, and completely confident in his third union. As he told People: "If I didn't have a great woman, I would be much more nervous." When Larry King asked Melania if she was apprehensive on "Larry King Live," she said that after being together for five years, she was confident. "We know what kind of relationship we have and I don't think I should be scared of anything," she shared (via YouTube).
Melania Trump is Donald Trump's third wife
For Donald Trump, the third time's a charm when it comes to marriage; the ladies' man was married twice before he made it official with Melania Trump. With Donald Trump's first wife, the late Ivana Trump, to whom he was married from 1977 to 1992, he shares three children: Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. The Trump children enjoy lavish lifestyles and all work for their father.
While Donald was still married to Ivana, he had a public affair with actress Marla Maples. Their relationship made headlines when the New York Post released a cover with the alleged Maples quote that described Donald having prowess in bed (via the Daily Beast). Donald ultimately married Maples in 1993 and had his fourth child, Tiffany Trump, with her two months later. By 1997, they were divorced.
All of Donald's wives signed prenuptial agreements. To that end, after their divorce, Ivana was awarded $25 million and their Greenwich mansion (via Business Insider) and Maples received $1 million plus another million for a home (via Vanity Fair).
Donald Trump called Melania Trump 'terrific' in bed
When it comes to Melania Trump, Donald Trump doesn't hold back from talking about their physical chemistry. In an interview with shock jock Howard Stern in 2004, Donald complimented Melania's skills in the bedroom. "[Melania] is terrific in bed," he boasted. "She wouldn't want me to say that, but she is."
In another interview with Stern (via YouTube) which took place in 1999 before they were married, Melania actually revealed that she and her husband were frequently intimate. These interviews happened before Donald was elected president, and Melania didn't seem to mind the explicit nature of the conversations. When asked about them in an interview with Dujour, she said: "Men will be men."
In addition to commenting on their bedroom habits, Donald seldom fails to acknowledge his partner's attractive looks. "Her beauty amazes me. It is not normal," he told Tatler. And apparently, the feeling is mutual, as Melania has also gushed about Donald's physical allure. "He's a very handsome guy and sexy," she shared. Referring to Donald Trump's famous mane of hair, Melania called it "beautiful" and "very soft."
Melania and Donald Trump have one son together
After he married Melania Trump, Donald Trump said he planned on having children with his new bride on an episode of "Larry King Live." "I'm not going to be doing the diapers ... she will be an unbelievable mother. I'll be a good father, but I'll be doing my deals," he said (via YouTube). Subsequently, the couple welcomed their only child, Barron Trump, in 2006. Once he was born, Donald changed his mind about fatherly duties, telling People: "I love to feed the baby. Not because I have to, but just because I love it."
Growing up in the penthouse of Trump Tower in New York City, Barron Trump enjoyed a lavish lifestyle; he had not only a nursery, but also a kitchen, living room, and nanny's quarters.
Donald and Melania make sure their son is protected from the media's scrutiny. Once Donald was sworn into office, Barron had a motorcade accompany him to school in Manhattan. To help him to complete his school year, Melania stayed in New York with Barron for six months, and they moved to the White House over the summer.
Melania and Donald Trump don't sleep in the same bedroom
To say that Donald and Melania Trump give each other space is quite an understatement. In fact, in the book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," author Michael Wolff revealed that Melania and Donald Trump don't share a bed. He also explained that Donald has a habit of locking his wife out at night so he can indulge in cheeseburgers while watching television.
Former housekeepers for the couple confirmed this separation to journalist Mary Jordan for her book, "The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump." The women worked at Donald's New Jersey golf course and affirmed that the president's residence was on the second floor, while Melania and Barron Trump slept in separate rooms on the same floor. "I never saw them like a normal family, sitting together at a table, eating together, talking," one former employee told Jordan (via Meaww). "They spend time in the same place but they don't interact."
However, these arrangements don't necessarily mean they are estranged. In an interview with Inside Edition, Jordan said: "By all accounts, they do have a connection, they do have a relationship."
Melania and Donald Trump's relationship has been plagued by cheating scandals
Donald Trump has a reputation for being a Lothario, and during his presidential run, many women came forward with allegations that he harassed them. Standing by her man, Melania Trump adamantly defended him as he faced this scandal. After nine women spoke out that he assaulted them (via HuffPost), Melania told CNN: "I believe my husband. This was all organized from the opposition."
Another bombshell accusation came when the press revealed that adult performer Stormy Daniels was paid hush money by Donald's lawyer to keep a 2006 tryst with the president a secret (via CNBC). Daniels told CBS that she confronted Donald about the fact that he was married. "And he brushed it aside, said, 'Oh yeah, yeah, you know, don't worry about that. We don't even — we have separate rooms and stuff,'" she said.
Melania did make her feelings known about the woman who allegedly slept with her husband. In a recording released by her friend and advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (via Business Insider), she referred to Daniels as a sex worker, in not-so-friendly terms.
#SaveMelania was once trending
It was during Donald Trump's inauguration that the media began commentating on Melania Trump's possible misery. After the frown seen around the world, Melania had a very uncomfortable-looking first dance with her husband to "My Way" (via YouTube). During the uncomfortable dance, Donald and Melania avoided eye contact and kept a noticeable distance from one another.
Soon after those televised events, the hashtags #SaveMelania and #SadMelania began trending on Twitter. And the very next day, protesters held signs at the Women's March that had "Free Melania" scrawled on them. In 2019, CNN's Kate Bennett even released a book titled "Free Melania," in which she paints the portrait of a jaded First Lady. In the tell-all, she claims that after the Stormy Daniels scandal, Melania purposely arrived separately to the State of the Union address, refused to go with Donald on an overseas trip, or hold his hand after a flight (via The Guardian).
Melania Trump has been seen swatting Donald Trump's hand away
There have been multiple instances where Donald Trump reached for his wife's hand in public, only to have it swatted away. After seeing these swats at public events, many have wondered if their marriage is in crisis. To better illustrate the lack of PDA, The Lincoln Project posted a Twitter compilation of all the times Donald was denied his wife's hand.
Besides the lack of hand-holding, the video also includes an awkward Melania Trump moment that was captured by millions. In the clip, which was filmed on Donald's inauguration day, Melania is seen smiling at her husband — but when he turns his back, her face distorts into an obvious frown. This moment generated quite a buzz in the media, with many people taking Melania's action to mean that she was in an unhappy marriage. In her book "Free, Melania," author Kate Bennett claims that the couple no longer says "I love you" to one another (via IBT).
Melania admits that Donald Trump is not politically correct
During her husband's presidency, Melania Trump tried to stay out of most political conversations, though she's assured America that she's very well informed and active behind closed doors. "I'm very political in private life, and between me and my husband I know everything that is going on," she told Harper's Bazaar. Additionally, Donald Trump takes his wife's advice to heart. In an interview with Barbara Walters on ABC News, he confessed: "She said 'you could tone it down a little bit on occasion,' which I understand."
Melania has also admitted that the former president does not play by societal rules. "He is not politically correct, and he tells the truth," she revealed. And in her speech at the Republican National Convention, Melania reiterated that fact. "As you have learned over the past five years, he is not a traditional politician," she explained (via CNN).
In fact, Melania may be Donald's No. 1 fan, as she predicted his presidential win years before he ran. As far back as 1999, Melania said her husband would undoubtedly be president one day (via The Washington Times). She was right.
There was speculation that Melania would divorce Donald once he left office
On an episode of "Larry King Live," Melania Trump said: "To marry a man like Donald, you need to know who you are and you need to be very strong and smart" (via YouTube). Only time will tell if Melania will ever use that strength to leave the marriage if she chooses to. A former White House aide to the president, Omarosa Manigault Newman, revealed in her book "Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House," that she believed the end was near for the couple. "In my opinion, Melania is counting every minute until he is out of office and she can divorce him," she penned in the 2018 book (via Newsweek).
In an interview with Howard Stern, Donald Trump spoke on the importance of having Melania sign a prenuptial agreement. "I've written too many books about prenups not to have one," he revealed. Indeed their financial deal is no secret, and Melania once told Tatler: "Yes, I did sign a prenup. It was very generous. It was good!" But later on, Melania Trump renegotiated her prenup.
What life has been life for the couple since leaving the White House
It's been quite an adjustment for Melania and Donald Trump post-presidency. They left the White House and took up residency at Mar-a-Lago, and the couple couldn't have behaved more differently. In fact, it was their post-White House life that highlighted the key differences between the couple. Donald was agitated and eager to get back into politics, while Melania disappeared even more than she did in the East Wing.
"She's not a presence at Mar-a-Lago at all," an insider told CNN. "She's not mingling with people and rarely interacts with her husband's staff." She frequented the spa on the estate and sometimes went down to dinner with her son, Barron Trump, her husband, and occasionally, her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs. She orders the Dover sole and has Diet Coke with no ice.
Donald, conversely, has been in the spotlight frequently since his presidency. He's been spotted playing golf and playing the guest star at weddings. But where's Melania? She's largely slipped away from the spotlight, in spite of her husband's eager attempts to relaunch his political career. She did, however, make an exception when she visited Place of Hope, a foster care center in Palm Beach, Florida, in May 2022. "She was so genuine. I can't believe she came here to learn more about our lives," one of the children from Place of Hope told People. So in rare sightings, she makes a positive impression.
The January 6 riot revealed a lot about their relationship
The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, revealed a lot about a lot of things, but it also cast Melania and Donald Trump's relationship in a new light. Since then, we've learned that Donald can be afraid of Melania. This juicy tidbit came out of Kellyanne Conway's testimony to the House following the riots. Conway claimed that she tried to contact Melania so that they could change the course of events, hopefully taking things in a more peaceful direction. "I texted her, please — something to the effect of, you know, please talk to him, because I know he listens to her," Conway said of Melania and Trump (via Insider). "He listens to many of us, but he reserves fear for one person, Melania Trump." Later in her testimony, Conway claimed that Melania didn't know what was going on that day, and that's why she did nothing.
However, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham explained to MSNBC what really happened with Melania behind the scenes that day. Grisham said that she texted Melania and asked her to tweet about peaceful protests and condemn violence (via YouTube). But Melania simply replied "No." Later, Grisham flatly refuted the idea that Melania didn't know what was happening that day. "Mrs. Trump always knew what was going on," Grisham said. So, we know that Melania didn't want to get involved and that she has more power over Donald than we ever realized.
She's always been protective of Donald Trump
Melania Trump's love of privacy is rooted in her deep desire to protect her family, especially her husband Donald Trump. This is an interesting and enriching twist on the narrative that we previously heard about them as a couple — that she married Donald for protection. This gets emphasized in Nina Burleigh's book "Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women," which claims that Melania wanted a father figure in Donald.
While this statement could be true (how do we know the innermost workings of a person's heart?), Melania is also deeply protective of her husband. According to former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, Melania didn't trust many people who worked around her husband, including his own son, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, and former chief spokesman Jason Miller.
"She was always very protective of who was around her husband," Grisham told MSNBC (via YouTube). "She very much liked people who would tell him the truth, tell him he shouldn't do things." Grisham went on, saying that the above list of people often just told Donald things he wanted to hear. Grisham said that Melania also had a problem with people who tried to profit off of her husband. Grisham said that one time, Guilfoyle asked for $60,000 to introduce Donald at a rally, and this really bothered Melania. All that Melania wanted were people who genuinely cared about Donald working with him.
The Fed search at Mar-a-Lago showed their differences
When the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, we got another great glimpse at the difference between Donald and Melania Trump. While agents searched the Florida estate for classified documents, Donald exhibited some of his typical behavior. "These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before," he said in a statement (per Newsweek).
The raid lasted for nine hours and included searches through Melania's closets and personal belongings. "This is a terrible thing," Donald said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" (via Newsweek). "They go into her closet, they go through her dresses and who knows what else. ... And it wasn't left the way they found it. I didn't walk into [my room] and say, 'Oh, this is so nice. The way they put it back.' I think it's a disgrace that a thing like this could happen." Donald even posted about the FBI going through Melania's closet on his site, Truth Social.
Apparently, searching Melania's closet was a much bigger deal for Donald than it was for Melania. "She cared, but not like he cared," a source told CNN. "It annoyed her." And that was the end of that for her. Clearly, it bothered Donald way more than his wife.
What's the deal with their NFTs?
Of all the unique interests that Melania and Donald Trump share, we were not expecting to say NFTs. The Trumps are shockingly invested in these non-fungible tokens, and both are trying to sell them online. Donald launched his Donald Trump Digital Trading Card collection with such unusual images that many thought it was a joke at first. In one image, he's tearing his suit off to reveal a superhero costume while lasers shoot out of his eyes in front of Trump Tower. And no, this is no joke. He released 44,000 cards at $99 each. Sales have ebbed and flowed, but have overall done quite well for Donald.
Melania is into NFTs too on the Solana blockchain. On her website, she listed several cards for $150 each, including a blue rose called the MetaRose and a watercolor-like painting of her face. She's also selling a Christmas Star NFT and corresponding brass ornament for $45. The funniest part about the Christmas ornament is that Melania was once recorded by former aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, saying: "I'm working ... my a** off at Christmas stuff" (per HuffPost). "You know, who gives a fu** about Christmas stuff and decoration but I need to do it, right?"
This might be one of their most unusual money-making schemes. But Donald and Melania have defied divorce rumors, made it through his White House term, and are still together. Apparently, the couple that NFTs together stays together.