Trump biographer claims president and Melania are ‘separated' and do not live by traditional marriage arrangements
Biographer Michael Wolff has claimed that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are essentially 'separated' following reports that she has spent less than two weeks at the White House since the president's inauguration.
Wolff, who has authored several books highly critical of the president over the years, made the remarks Tuesday on The Daily Beast Podcast.
'They clearly do not in any way inhabit a marriage as we define marriage,' Wolff said in response to host Joanna Coles's question as to what extent the first lady is involved in Trump's second administration.
'And I think maybe we can more specifically say they live separate lives,' Wolff continued. 'They are separated. The president of the United States and the first lady are separated.'
White House communications director Steven Cheung said that Wolff was 'a blithering idiot' who has been 'widely discredited due to his blatant lies and fabrications' in response to the author's comments when approached by The Independent.
'He is an imbecile of the highest order and his Trump Derangement Syndrome-addled brain has caused him to lead a miserable existence devoid of reality,' Cheung said.
Speculation surrounding the state of the couple's marriage has been rife given Melania's infrequent appearances at the White House.
Since Trump returned to office on January 20, Melania is estimated to have spent less than 14 days at the White House, according to The New York Times. That estimate might be 'generous,' the outlet reported, citing sources.
The first lady has made a handful of appearances in recent months beside her husband, including attending the funeral of the late Pope Francis the day before her 55th birthday and the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn.
When the president and first lady arrived back in the U.S. after the funeral on Melania's birthday, the couple went their separate ways, with Melania leaving in a car while the president boarded Marine One.
In a sit-down interview with Fox & Friends ahead of the inauguration, Melania gave some insight into how she would approach being first lady the second time around.
'I will be in the White House,' she said when asked where she planned to spend most of her time. 'And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach.'
Her priority, she said, was 'to be a mom' to Barron, now 19, and, 'to be a first lady, to be a wife.'
Two people familiar with the first lady's thinking told the Times that she has been 'deeply spooked' by the two assassination attempts on Trump's life last summer. Melania 'was already worried about her family's safety and had been for years,' they told the newspaper.
Paolo Zampolli, the former modeling agent who first spotted Melania in Milan in 1995 and introduced her to Trump at New York's Kit Kat Club in 1998, said that claims about the first lady's absence from the White House were misleading.
'She loves the White House,' said Zampolli, the incumbent U.S. special representative for global partnerships. 'And she loves the role of serving as our first lady.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
McDaniel: Trump, Musk feud like Ross and Rachel on ‘Friends'
Former Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel during a recent TV appearance equated the bitter feud between President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk to the cyclical relationship between Ross and Rachel on the sitcom 'Friends.' 'I'm hoping it's like a Ross and Rachel thing. That it's just a break and they come back together. You know, we all panicked when they broke up on 'Friends,'' McDaniel said in a Thursday night appearance on NewsNation's 'Cuomo,' adding that she hopes they 'come back together.' Musk, who heads six companies, has been slamming Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' that is currently moving through Congress. He amped up the rhetoric Thursday, taking direct jabs at Trump by backing a call for the president to be impeached and accusing him of being in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump threatened to cancel the contracts that Musk's companies have with the federal government. Earlier at the White House on Thursday, Trump said he was 'very surprised' and 'very disappointed' in Musk over his criticism of the massive spending bill that passed the House last month. 'I think Trump's — you've seen Trump forgive people who have said things about him. You've seen these two men work very closely together. Elon was a big part of this election,' the former RNC chair told host Chris Cuomo. 'He came in, their businesses have both suffered, they've been attacked, they've taken a lot of personal hits for coming out politically, and I hope in the end they call a truce.' Cuomo then asked McDaniel if she thinks both men are 'worth more or less than before the election?' 'I think they're both worth more,' she said in response. Trump is looking to move past the fallout. Officials close to the White House did not rule out the possibility of the two men fixing their relationship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
5 hours ago
- Politico
The New York Times lobbies up
With Katherine Long, Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — NYT HIRES BROWNSTEIN: The New York Times has registered to lobby for the first time in more than a decade. The news giant has retained K Street heavyweight Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to represent it on a range of issues affecting the industry, from encroachments on press freedoms to the threats posed by artificial intelligence. — The Times' parent company first hired Brownstein last year, but the firm's work didn't trigger lobbying registration requirements until April, according to a spokesperson for the company and a draft disclosure filing shared with PI. More than half a dozen lobbyists are listed as working on the account for Brownstein: Republicans Marc Lampkin, Will Moschella and Greta Joynes and Democrats Al Mottur, Alice Lugo, Rob Robillard and John Menges. — One issue drawing the paper off the lobbying sidelines is the increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence and the thorny issues it poses for news organizations. The Times, for example, introduced a suite of AI tools for internal use earlier this year. And many news outlets (including the Times, POLITICO and parent company Axel Springer) have partnered with AI companies on licensing deals and consumer-facing products. — But NYT is also one of several publishers facing off in court against ChatGPT creator OpenAI or other AI companies accused of copyright infringement for using outlets' content to train its models without permission or compensation. — In a congressional hearing on the issue last year, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned that AI was 'literally eating away at the lifeblood of our democracy' and contributing to an 'existential crisis' among local publishers in particular. The last Congress also mulled legislation that would require online platforms like Google and Meta to negotiate with and pay news publishers in exchange for hosting their content. — At the same time, Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger has been repeatedly sounding the alarm about threats to press freedom both around the world and from leaders in the U.S. — In a speech last month that was republished as an essay in the Times, Sulzberger took note of President Donald Trump's escalating pressure campaign against news outlets already in his second term — from curtailing access to certain mainstream outlets in favor of friendlier partisan ones to suing, seeking to defund or opening federal probes of others and calling for the jailing of reporters. — 'It takes significant time, effort, and resources to produce The New York Times's fact-based original journalism and other content. Because of that, we have for years taken steps to protect and defend our intellectual property rights and uphold its value,' a Times spokesperson told PI in a statement. — 'In line with these efforts, we have engaged a Washington, DC-based government affairs firm to ensure our rights and legal protections are clearly and accurately represented among policymakers and regulators focused on publishing, media, copyright law and press freedoms,' it added. — The Times hasn't lobbied at the federal level since 2014, when the company paid Keightley & Ashner $30,000 for three quarters of work related to a pension issue. TGIF and welcome to PI. This newsletter runs on tips, so let's hear 'em. You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. ALL ABOUT AVA: A coalition of budget airlines this week launched the Association of Value Airlines, a new industry group aimed at boosting low-budget carriers in policy debates often dominated by the trade association representing major carriers, Airlines for America. AVA's founding members include Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier, Spirit and Sun Country. — Chris Brown currently serves as the group's interim executive director. He previously was vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs at larger industry trade association Airlines for America, and lobbied for low-fare airlines at the National Air Carrier Association. — In an interview with PI, Brown said the goal of AVA is to amplify the priorities of budget airlines, as larger organizations encompassing a range of air carriers often lead to competing priorities. Those priorities, Brown said, include a focus on rising costs due to the pilot shortage and the implementation of simulator training programs within the current 1,500-hour training requirement for pilots. — While the budget airlines business model thrived during the pandemic, they're now at an inflection point, Brown said. Brown attributes these airlines' success to ancillary fees, a model that other high-budget airlines have started to mirror. Southwest Airlines, for example, announced in March plans to do away with its free checked bag policy. — 'It's a critical time for our carriers, because of where they are financially and wanting to take advantage of what should be a more favorable regulatory environment with the Trump administration,' Brown said. PAUL WEISS LOSES ANOTHER BIG NAME: Another prominent lawyer has left Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison after the law firm struck a deal with the Trump administration to avoid being punished by an executive order. — Damian Williams, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, left the firm after just five months to join Jenner & Block as the co-chair of its litigation department and investigations, compliance and defense practice. — Williams served as one of the nation's top federal prosecutors during the Biden administration, securing several high-profile convictions including those of former crypto kingmaker Sam Bankman-Fried and former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). — Williams is the latest in a string of notable departures from Paul Weiss in the aftermath of its deal with the White House. Top Democratic attorney Karen Dunn and former top DOJ official Jeannie Rhee left the firm along with two other partners last month. — But Williams' landing spot is almost more notable: Jenner & Block became one of the first white shoe law firms targeted by Trump to take the president to court over his executive orders — and so far, they've been winning. OFF TARGET: 'A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders,' POLITICO's Holly Otterbein and Daniel report. — 'At a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, the Association of State Democratic Committees — an umbrella group for state parties — voted to recommend state races use one liberal firm, TargetSmart, for a major portion of digital ad buys, which could be worth millions.' — 'TargetSmart announced on May 7 that Liz Walters, outgoing chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is taking over as CEO this summer. Walters, who made her departure public in a post on X, said she would leave the state party role by June 30. And until the week before the group's meeting, she was part of the ASDC's leadership team as treasurer.' — Though Walters recused herself from the TargetSmart vote, the incident is prompting fears among the party of even the appearance of a conflict of interest as Democrats struggle to find their footing. BLAST RADIUS: 'The spectacular breakup between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump threatens to leave Tesla with few political friends,' POLITICO's David Ferris reports. 'Musk has spent the past few months alienating the electric automaker's base of climate-minded car buyers by moonlighting as Trump's government-slasher-in-chief. Now, the billionaire's fixation on the GOP megabill has opened a dangerous rift with the president, who threatened Thursday to end all subsidies to Musk's companies.' — Musk's competitors in the space industry, meanwhile, are already moving to take advantage of the split, according to our Sam Skove. The SpaceX founder has long been an avid proponent of next bringing humans to Mars, rather than the moon. — But in some of the first significant pushback against Musk and SpaceX, 'a number of major space companies … are launching an ad campaign going big on the moon, according to two industry officials granted anonymity to discuss the effort.' — 'A separate letter addressed to the Senate Commerce Committee, and obtained by POLITICO, backs investments in the moon, and is signed by a lengthy slate of prominent space companies — but not SpaceX.' RELATED READ: 'What do Musk and Tesla want from the Republican megabill?' by E&E News' Kelsey Brugger. SHE MEANS BUSINESS: Casey Means, Trump's new nominee to be U.S. surgeon general, 'has repeatedly said the nation's medical, health and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health,' The Associated Press' Michelle R. Smith and Ali Swenson write. — But as Means 'has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of health and wellness products — including specialty basil seed supplements, a blood testing service and a prepared meal delivery service — in ways that put money in her own pocket.' — 'In her newsletter, on her social media accounts, on her website, in her book and during podcast appearances, the entrepreneur and influencer has at times failed to disclose that she could profit or benefit in other ways from sales of products she recommends. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found.' AI GROUP STAFFS UP: AI advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation is adding four new staffers to its policy team, Morning Tech reports. Brandie Nonnecke, previously an associate research professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, is now a senior policy director, while Rachel Hovde is joining as director of policy. She previously served as a senior advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security. — Sarah Kessel, who worked under former Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), is now ARI's manager of government affairs, and Evan Sarnor has joined as a legislative analyst from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. CORRECTION: Thursday's edition of this newsletter gave the incorrect state for former Gov. Jim Gilmore and misidentified the division at Seven Letter that has promoted three staffers. PI regrets the error. Jobs report — Chip Kahn will step down as president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals at the end of 2025, after 24 years with the group. — Shelly O'Neill Stoneman has launched StonePoint Strategies, a strategic consulting firm. She previously was senior vice president of government affairs at Lockheed Martin. — Chelsea Blink is now legislative director for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). She previously was director of farm animal legislation at the ASPCA. — Gustavo Torres is retiring as executive director of CASA, after more than three decades in the role. — Jerzy Piatkowski is now counsel at Fenwick. He most recently was vice president of contracts and associate general counsel at General Dynamics Mission Systems. — Kevin Orellana will be a legislative assistant for Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.), handling his financial services portfolio. He previously was a legislative aide for Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.). New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs Earnin PAC Activehours Inc. Fund (Earnin PAC) (PAC) Our Virginia PAC (Super PAC) RIGHT TECH PAC (Hybrid PAC) Taproot Collective Fund (PAC) Vets Against Trump PAC (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Bkv Corporation Arrow Group Consulting, LLC: Pelican Reef Of St. Augustine LLC Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Chicanos Por La Causa Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: City Of St. Pete Beach, Fl Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: National Iamerican Indian Housing Coalition Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Significance, Inc. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Tampa Port Authority Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Treatment Alternatives For Safe Communities, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Ameresco, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Exelon Business Services Company LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Galaxy Digital Holdings Lp Bgr Government Affairs: Millennium Management LLC Bgr Government Affairs: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Bgr Government Affairs: Phantom Bgr Government Affairs: St Energy Bgr Government Affairs: Welbehealth Boundary Stone Partners: Carbonbuilt Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Pc: Bright Path Labs Capital City Consulting, LLC.: Miller Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Merchants For America, Inc. Continental Strategy, LLC: Stubhub Inc. Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Archkey Solutions Hb Strategies: Viamericas Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Estar Partners Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Mark Foods LLC Red Carr LLC: Team Hallahan (On Behalf Of City Of Cleveland) Riley Executive Government Solutions: Okeefe Industries Squire Patton Boggs: Bitcoin Policy Institute The Jackson Group, LLC: 47G The Jackson Group, LLC: Pelion Venture Partners The Nuclear Company: The Nuclear Company Todd Strategy Group: Glaxosmithkline LLC Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Dupont Law Firm New Lobbying Terminations Bgr Government Affairs: Grail, LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Sandvine Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Deckard Technologies Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Leading Builders Of America Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Lowe Syndrome Association Walker Strategies: Alliance Of Health Care Sharing Ministries
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
The latest personnel purge at the FBI adds to a destabilizing problem
Among the many problems that have emerged in federal law enforcement during Donald Trump's second term is the campaign against key personnel. Indeed, there's been an unsubtle campaign to purge federal law enforcement of prosecutors and FBI officials for unsubtle political reasons. As The New York Times reported, those efforts are ongoing. The F.B.I. has targeted another round of employees who ran afoul of conservatives, forcing out two veteran agents in Virginia — one of whom is friends with a critic of President Trump — and punishing another in Las Vegas, according to several people familiar with the matter. Two of the men, Spencer Evans and Stanley Meador, are senior agents who ran F.B.I. field offices in Las Vegas and Richmond, Va. The third, Michael Feinberg, a top deputy in the Norfolk, Va., office, had ties to a former agent whom Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director, identified in his book as part of the so-called deep state. The rationales behind the reported moves have varied. Evans, for example, apparently became a target after a stint at the FBI's human resources department, where he was reluctant to approve exemptions for Covid vaccines. Republicans didn't like Meador after his office issued a memo in 2023 related to possible threats from anti-abortion activists. As for Feinberg, the Times' report added that he issued a statement a couple of weeks ago, explaining that he was threatened with an investigation and the possibility of a demotion because of his friendship with Peter Strzok — who appeared on FBI Director Kash Patel's infamous 'enemies list.' On his way out, Feinberg added that the FBI as institution had begun 'to decay,' and it's easy to understand how and why he came to that conclusion. For years, the public has been bombarded with hysterical rhetoric from Republican conspiracy theorists who insisted that the FBI — one of the most politically conservative institutions in the federal government and an agency that has literally never had a Democratic director — had secretly become 'weaponized' by rascally liberals hellbent on targeting poor, unsuspecting victims on the right. The baseless claims never made sense, though the FBI's Trump-appointed leadership is now engaging in many of the same political efforts that Republicans long claimed to oppose. On the 11th day of Trump's second term, for example, NBC News reported, 'Trump administration officials have forced out all six of the FBI's most senior executives and multiple heads of FBI field offices across the country,' in part as retribution for the president having faced federal criminal charges in 2023 and in part to punish officials involved in Jan. 6 cases. It was the first such purge on Team Trump's revenge tour, but it was hardly the last. The Times added in a separate report earlier this week, 'Behind the scenes, [Patel's] vision of an F.B.I. under President Trump is quietly taking shape. Agents have been forced out. Others have been demoted or put on leave with no explanation. ... The actions have obliterated decades of experience in national security and criminal matters at the F.B.I. and raised questions about whether the agents taking over such critical posts have the institutional knowledge to pursue cornerstones of its work.' I don't know if the bureau will ever recover from the efforts to Trumpify it, but I know that recovery won't happen anytime soon. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on
