In 2018, a news story broke about then-President Donald Trump which was humiliating for both him and his wife Melania. The story claimed that Trump had had a sexual encounter with an adult film star named Stormy Daniels in 2006, shortly after Melania gave birth to their son Barron. It gets worse: Trump is accused of having paid for Daniels’ silence during his presidential campaign. He is now facing legal action over these claims.
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Now, a former aide of Melania’s has spoken out about how Melania reacted at the time, and how she imagines the former First Lady is handling the issue now. Here’s everything you need to know.
Melania’s reaction at the time
Stephanie Grisham worked as Melania’s spokesperson and chief of staff while she was First Lady. Grisham, who resigned after the January 6th insurrection, was therefore around Melania when the Daniels story first broke in 2018.
She told CNN on Wednesday:
I spent a ton of time with her when the news was breaking about Stormy Daniels. And she didn't take it lightly at all.
When the news came out, Melania made a last minute cancellation, leaving her husband to go on his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, solo. Many linked this move to the scandal. Grisham has said that Melania openly discussed it with her, saying:
This is Donald's problem. He got himself into this mess. He can fix it himself.
Melania also traveled to Trump's State of the Union address that year separately from her husband, which is not usually the done thing. When she arrived, she was on the arm of a handsome aide. Grisham claimed this was to make her husband jealous. Melania made reference to the infamous Clinton affair, said Grisham, and told her aide at the time:
I do not want to be like Hillary Clinton, do you understand what I mean?
Trump lost his second attempt to delay the trial he is facing over the alleged hush money he paid Daniels. The legal proceedings are therefore set to start 15 April, and will investigate the claim that Trump paid Daniels off through his then-lawyer Michael Cohen.
Melania may ‘push’ Trump to testify
Speaking about the current situation, Grisham added:
I would imagine that she is pushing him to make this stop. I would imagine that she will push him to go on the stand and defend himself.
Because this is very, very embarrassing for her. It's humiliating for her, and I can guarantee you that she's not happy right now and that he's quite worried about that.
While it remains unclear whether the former President plans to testify in yet another court case, both Daniels and Cohen are expected to take the stand.
Grisham’s statements come after Melania was seen at a recent fundraiser with her husband looking less than thrilled to be there.
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Sources used:
MailOnline: Former Trump aide says Melania was 'humiliated' by the Stormy Daniels affair allegations and reveals why the ex-first lady will 'push' Donald to take the witness stand in the hush money trial
Mirror: EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump and Melania put on 'awkward' display as former First Lady tries to 'avoid' hand-holding
