A new book by renowned author Michael Wolff unveils the intricate dynamics of Donald and Melania Trump’s marital life during the 2024 presidential campaign. Wolff describes their relationship as the most public yet enigmatic in the country.
“All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America” gives a detailed account of a marriage defined by prolonged periods of separation and meticulously planned public appearances. Wolff quotes a source from Mar-a-Lago who stated, “She (expletive) hates him,” expressing surprise that this statement was not obvious.
In the 18-month campaign leading to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2024, Melania Trump was noticeably absent. According to Wolff, she declined to deliver a pivotal speech at the convention. Despite appearing on stage with her husband after his acceptance speech, she remained silent.
The book paints a picture of campaign staff often unsure of Melania Trump’s location. She seemed more like an occasional guest, appearing at public events with Trump, but her place of residence remained a mystery to many on the campaign team. There were rumors of her having a separate residence in Trump Tower.
In preparation for a second Trump term, the campaign proposed the idea of a “part-time First Lady,” where Melania might split her time between the White House and Trump Tower in Manhattan to be close to her son Barron, a student at New York University. Wolff interprets this arrangement as a reflection of a transactional American marriage.
Her absence became particularly conspicuous during Trump’s legal battles. When asked to join her husband for his first indictment in New York, she allegedly laughed it off. She was also notably missing from the Stormy Daniels trial, where Trump was facing multiple felony charges for hush money payments.
Wolff’s book indicates that Melania’s pattern of intermittent public appearances was a norm during the Trump administration from 2017-2021. Despite her prolonged absences and limited public engagement, the media did not highlight her elusive presence.
In October 2024, Melania released her book, “Melania,” which surprised the Trump campaign. Wolff writes that the timing left campaign officials wondering whether it was a criticism or a distant compliment to Trump. The book painted a favorable picture of her husband, including his regular check-ins on her health.
On the eve of a crucial rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, Melania unexpectedly offered to introduce Trump. Wolff interprets this as an act of sympathy or a straightforward peace offering. On election night, she stated she would only appear with him if he won, a condition that was ultimately met.
In response to Wolff’s book, Trump campaign figures, including co-chairs Susie Wiles, now the president’s Chief of Staff, and Chris LaCivita, issued a stern rebuttal in November: “He is a known peddler of fake news who routinely concocts situations, conversations, and conclusions that never happened.” They urged others to disregard his future publications.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung directly addressed the book’s claims with sharp criticism: “Michael Wolff is a lying sack of (expletive) and has been proven to be a fraud. He routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination, only possible because he has a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain.”
Wolff’s previous book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” published in 2018, stirred considerable controversy with its revelations about the Trump administration’s internal chaos. Wolff insists his sources are accurate, though the book doesn’t name them but provides detailed accounts of Wiles’ and LaCivita’s campaign experiences.
