Melania Trump, the spouse of ex-President Donald Trump, is readying herself for the release of her memoir, “Melania.”
Due to be published by Skyhorse Publishing on October 8, 2024, the memoir is expected to offer a behind-the-scenes view of her tenure as First Lady, her pre-political life, and the media scrutiny she endured.
At 54, Melania Trump became the First Lady of the United States when her husband secured the presidency in 2016. Despite her high-profile position, she kept a considerably low public presence, often sidestepping the conventional duties of a first lady. Her 2016 speech at the Republican National Convention was criticized for alleged plagiarism, marking her unconventional approach to her public role. During the 2024 campaign, one of her rare appearances was at the Republican National Convention where she chose not to speak, standing by her husband’s side.
With the 2024 presidential polls on the horizon, Melania Trump is ending her silence. In a series of promotional videos for her memoir, she discusses issues such as her nude photoshoots, her role as a mother, and her issues with the media. She also voices her criticism of the 2022 FBI raid of her Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where agents searched for classified documents.
In one video, she expresses shock at the violation of her privacy by the government, terming it a “warning” to all Americans.
The release date of Melania Trump’s memoir holds significance. With the November 5 election just weeks away, she continues to be a potential future first lady. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, former adviser to Melania Trump, remarked on this timing, noting, “She is capitalizing on the time she has left before the election. Her [market] value is gone if she is no longer a prospective first lady.” Wolkoff, now a supporter of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, further stated, “If Harris wins, I believe people will want to move on.”
The memoir provides a look into Melania Trump’s private life, her modeling career, and her relationship with Donald Trump. Despite the controversies surrounding her husband’s two impeachments, criminal charges, and the pay-off scandal involving adult film star Stormy Daniels, Melania has largely refrained from commenting on these issues. Her memoir is expected to focus on her experiences as a wife and mother and the public scrutiny she has encountered.
Melania Trump’s choice to publish her memoir through Skyhorse Publishing instead of a major New York publishing house marks another deviation from standard practice. Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama collaborated with larger publishers and secured multimillion-dollar deals for their books. According to insiders, Melania’s team had talks with several major publishers but failed to reach agreements, eventually choosing Skyhorse, known for publishing controversial figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Woody Allen. A Skyhorse spokesperson declined to comment on the negotiation details.
Since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has been financially active. Her husband’s August 2024 financial disclosure report revealed her earnings of $330,000 from selling NFTs and $237,500 for a speaking engagement at a Log Cabin Republicans event in Palm Beach, Florida. These earnings underscore her careful management of her financial future, particularly as she remains mostly absent from her husband’s campaign events.
Despite her low profile, Melania Trump has faced considerable criticism for some controversial actions as First Lady. Her alterations to the White House Rose Garden, which saw the removal of iconic features from the Kennedy era, continue to upset historians. Moreover, her choice to wear a Zara jacket with the phrase “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” during a visit to children separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border has left a lasting impact on her public image.
Robert Watson, a historian and expert on first ladies, stated that Melania’s tenure broke several traditional norms related to the role. “One of the cardinal rules for a first lady is to do no harm… in this respect, Melania comes up short,” Watson stated in an email.
As the Election Day nears, the launch of Melania Trump’s memoir might be her final chance to influence her public legacy. Whether she will return to the White House or withdraw from the political scene is a decision left to the voters.
