Latest news with #HouseEasterEggRoll
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump reportedly takes over some first lady duties, including White House decor choices
Since his return to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has made glaring changes to the decor around 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., including several additions that reflect his long-standing love for gold. In the Oval Office, he has installed more flags and many more portraits of past American leaders, including several of himself. He has brought back his Diet Coke button, according to The Wall Street Journal. He has sought to remake the White House in Mar-a-Lago's image, with gold finishings, gold decor, gold trinkets and, down the line, potentially a ballroom. He has suggested paving over the Rose Garden — which his wife infamously renovated in 2020 — to resemble the patio at his Palm Beach golf club. The White House's makeover appears to be getting Trump's personal touch. First lady Melania Trump, who has proven to be as elusive a figure in her husband's second term as many had expected, has been conspicuously absent from public discussions about the decor changes. In fact, according to The New York Times' recent reporting (which has not been verified by MSNBC or NBC News), Melania Trump is so rarely at the White House that the president himself has taken over some of the duties that typically fall to the first lady, including decor choices for the residence: At the White House this time around, Mr. Trump has taken to performing some duties that typically would fall to a first lady. She's not the one carefully selecting light fixtures for the White House residence, redesigning the Rose Garden, greeting tour groups in the East Wing or hosting receptions for Women's History Month. He is. Beyond a handful of public appearances, the first lady has hardly been spotted in Washington, D.C., in her husband's second term so far. Last month, she participated in the White House Easter Egg Roll and spoke at the International Women of Courage Awards at the State Department. But she has spent fewer than 14 days altogether at the White House since her husband's inauguration, the Times reported, citing two people with knowledge of her schedule. The prominence of the first lady role has nevertheless afforded her some promotional opportunities: Melania Trump launched her own cryptocurrency in January, and an Amazon documentary about her life is in the works. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Melania Trump Chooses Dolce & Gabbana Trenchcoat for White House Departure for Pope's Funeral
WHEN IN ROME: En route to Joint Base Andrews to fly aboard Air Force One to Italy for Pope Francis' Saturday morning funeral, First Lady Melania Trump on Friday departed the White House dressed in a dove gray trenchcoat from Dolce & Gabbana. She accessorized her look with oversized black sunglasses, black Roger Vivier pointy-toe flats and a black Hermès Birkin bag. Dolce & Gabbana is a favorite resource for Trump, who wore a black coat from the brand and a black lace mantilla to meet Pope Francis in 2017 at the Vatican with President Donald Trump. The president is one of the 50 heads of state who are expected at Saturday's funeral in St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. A crowd of 200,000 is expected to turn up for the mass in honor of the 88-year-old Argentinean. Millions of people are expected to tune in to broadcasts of the historic event, and also the livestream of it by the Vatican. More from WWD Melania Trump's Nude Fashion Shoot: Photographer Gives His Point of View Melania Trump's Wedding Planner Describes the Party and Guests — 20 Years Later Walmart CEO Doug McMillon's $27M Pay Package and the Headaches that Come With It As an indication of the public's current interest in papal dealings, viewership of the feature film 'Conclave' had increased by 283 percent to 7 million minutes watched within days of the 266th pope's death on Monday. The two-time first lady also chose a Dolce & Gabbana tailored black blazer with wide satin lapels over an unbuttoned white top for her official 2025 White House portrait that was photographed by Régine Mahaux. FLOTUS' tuxedo-style suit was completed with a Ralph Lauren cummerbund. Trump also chose a Dolce & Gabbana ensemble for her 2017 official portrait. More recently, the former model wore a Dolce & Gabbana menswear inspired look — a black velvet tuxedo with satin lapels — to the White House Governors' Dinner in February. She completed that look with a Ralph Lauren cummerbund and white shirt. Over the president's inaugural weekend in January, she wore a Dolce & Gabbana white tuxedo shirt with a Saint Laurent jacket to the Candlelight Dinner at the National Building Museum. Earlier this week at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll FLOTUS chose a similar trenchcoat look to Friday's ensemble — a vanilla-colored leather belted trenchcoat from Mackage with low-heeled Roger Vivier flats. After landing at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome later Friday, the first couple were due at the U.S. Embassy, the 15th century Villa Taverna, which was commissioned by Cardinal Consalvi. Following their one-night stay in Italy and the pope's funeral, the Trumps planned to jet back to the U.S. for a night at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. View Gallery Launch Gallery: Melania Trump's Style Through the Years: From Front Rows to the White House Best of WWD Gigi Hadid Turns 30: Her Style Evolution Through the Years, PHOTOS Every Celebrity Skims Campaign: Donovan Mitchell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Abby Champion and More [PHOTOS] Victoria Beckham's Style Through the Years: From Her Spice Girls Era to Today [PHOTOS]
The Hill
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump world circles wagons on Hegseth amid new scandal
Hegseth lashed out at the media and what he claimed were 'disgruntled former employees' Monday for the chorus of criticism for his handling of battle plans on a Signal group chat. The Department of Defense also saw a series of high-profile suspensions in recent days over an internal investigation into leaks, and a former top spokesperson penned an op-ed Sunday saying chaos reigns at the Pentagon under Hegseth. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Monday became the first Republican to suggest Hegseth is not fit to lead the Pentagon. 'If it's true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it's totally unacceptable,' Bacon said. 'I'm not in the White House, and I'm not going to tell the White House how to manage this … but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn't tolerate it if I was in charge,' he added. But even with the surge of damning headlines, President Trump on Monday publicly backed Hegseth, who he claimed is 'doing a great job.' 'There's no dysfunction at all,' Trump told reporters at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied a report from NPR that the administration had started the process of searching for a new Defense secretary. Hegseth also appeared defiant, telling reporters that he and Trump spoke and are 'on the same page all the way.' The Trump administration's combat mode over Hegseth mirrors the stance it took last month after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic revealed he had been included in a Signal group chat with more than a dozen top Trump administration officials. Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced. The wider concerns were amplified in an op-ed penned by former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, p-blished in Politico Magazine on Sunday, in which he warned of 'total chaos' in the building over the past month.
The Hill
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump world fires back as Hegseth back in hot seat
Trump world is circling the wagons amid mounting criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after new revelations that he shared sensitive military information with family members on a group chat. Hegseth on Monday lashed out at the media and what he claimed were 'disgruntled former employees' for the chorus of criticism for his handling of battle plans. The Department of Defense also saw a series of high-profile suspensions in recent days over an internal investigation into leaks, and a former top spokesman penned an op-ed Sunday saying that chaos reigns at the Pentagon under Hegseth. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, in Monday became the first Republican to suggest Hegseth is not fit to lead the Pentagon. 'If it's true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it's totally unacceptable,' Bacon said. 'I'm not in the White House, and I'm not going to tell the White House how to manage this … but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn't tolerate it if I was in charge,' he added. But even with the surge of damning headlines, President Trump on Monday publicly backed Hegseth, who he claimed is 'doing a great job.' 'There's no dysfunction at all,' Trump told reporters at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. 'Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him,' Trump continued. 'It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess [it] sounds like disgruntled employees. You know he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that's what he's doing. So you don't always have friends when you do that.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied a report from NPR that the administration had started the process of searching for a new Defense secretary. Hegseth himself also appeared defiant, telling reporters that he and Trump spoke and are 'on the same page all the way.' Responding to reporting from The New York Times on the second Signal chat, which broke Sunday evening, Hegseth attempted to link the story to three former Pentagon officials ousted last week over alleged media leaks. 'What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,' he told reporters at the Easter Egg Roll. The Trump administration's combat mode over Hegseth mirrors the stance it took last month after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic revealed he had been included in a Signal group chat with more than a dozen top Trump administration officials. In the chat, started by national security advisor Mike Waltz, Hegseth shared specific details of imminent U.S. attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen, including the timing of airstrikes and the weapons that would be used. At the time, Trump held firm that he was confident in Hegseth and sought to downplay the significance of the leak, which remains under review by the Pentagon's acting inspector general. Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced. The wider concerns were amplified in an op-ed penned by former top Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot, published in Politico magazine Sunday, in which he warned of 'total chaos' in the building over the past month. Ullyot, who on Friday left his role as the acting assistant to Hegseth for public affairs over front office infighting, said the upheaval at the Defense Department will likely cost Hegseth his job. 'It's been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership,' Ullyot wrote, adding that it's hard to see Hegseth 'remaining in his role for much longer.' Ullyot also predicted there are 'even bigger bombshell stories coming this week.' Sources close to the White House said the administration spent significant political capital getting Hegseth confirmed, and that Trump is unlikely to abandon him anytime soon. Those sources also suggested Trump would be reluctant to be seen as disciplining a top official because of reports in The New York Times. Trump allies in the media also have rallied to Hegseth's defense, and the Defense secretary's high-profile allies, including Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk, have used their megaphones to lash out at critics. Even with Trump world's staunch support, the heat around Hegseth continues to rise. Last week, amid accusations of leaks to the media, three of Hegseth's handpicked officials were fired while two others chose to remove themselves from his office. The three men ousted — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick — quickly took to social media after they were officially removed on Friday, bashing 'unnamed Pentagon officials' they accused of slandering their character 'with baseless attacks on our way out the door.' Then on Sunday, the Times dropped its bombshell report that said Hegseth shared the same attack plans that he had disclosed on the earlier reported Signal chat with his wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer who is not a Defense Department employee, and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle. Making the report all the more damning, Hegseth allegedly used his own personal phone in accessing the chat and relaying the military plans. Federal officials typically are only meant to provide such high-level information through classified conversations, emails, or devices. On Monday, Hegseth brushed aside the report as being based on 'anonymous smears' and 'old news.' 'This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,' Hegseth continued. But Democrats, increasingly exasperated over the string of scandals that have rocked the Pentagon under Hegseth, are ramping up their warnings about the risks of his leadership. 'How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isn't only a f*cking liar, he is a threat to our national security?' Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Army veteran, wrote on X Sunday evening. 'Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops' lives are endangered by his singular stupidity. He must resign,' she added. Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) released a statement saying he had 'grave concerns' over Hegseth's ability to maintain the trust and confidence of service members and the president. 'Since he was nominated, I have warned that Mr. Hegseth lacks the experience, competence, and character to run the Department of Defense,' Reed said. 'In light of the ongoing chaos, dysfunction, and mass firings under Mr. Hegseth's leadership, it seems that those objections were well-founded.'
