She was directing a photoshoot for rugs
As the nation recalls the moments from last Wednesday during the Capitol Hill riot incited by exiting President Donald Trump, one narrative was left out. First Lady Melania Trump has remained quiet for the last two weeks with limited information on where and what she was doing during the Capitol Hill riot, until today.
While her husband was busy changing American history with an unprecedented riot on Capitol Hill the First Lady was busy overseeing and directing a photo shoot of rugs. The exiting First Lady is working on a coffee-table book about her interior designs incorporated in the White House during the Trump administration and is a large part of the First Lady’s schedule.
Melania Trump issued a statement today condemning last week's violence, though a rug photoshoot seemed to be her priority while the insurrection was taking place https://t.co/J2EDcMRJjJ
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) January 11, 2021
The First Lady’s schedule for the same day as the riot detailed that she was overseeing a photoshoot for the book focusing on the rugs in the Executive Residence and the East Wing. White House sources close to the First Lady claims that she is emotionally or mentally “checked out” and doesn’t like to get involved in the extreme politics surrounding the Trump administration.
The First Lady was encouraged to create a message in an attempt to calm the mob but declined. Since the Capitol Hill riot, the First Lady hasn’t addressed the public but decided to break her silence today.
FLOTUS issued an official statement expressing her condolences with the name of lives lost starting with the four Trump supporters and the Capitol Police officers last. The First Lady then lashed out against claims of what she describes as “salacious gossip and unwarranted personal attacks and false misleading accusations on me — from people who are looking to be relevant and have an agenda.”
“We must listen to one another, focus on what unites us, and rise above what divides us.”
First lady Melania Trump says that she is “disappointed and disheartened” by the deadly riot at the Capitol last week by supporters of her husband. https://t.co/bHacKKW8EP pic.twitter.com/DOtmVe8iyx
— ABC News (@ABC) January 11, 2021
She goes onto claim that this time should be dedicated to healing the country and shouldn’t be used for personal gain. FLOTUS also attempts to bring attention to her “Be Best” platform that focuses on kindness, civility, and anti-bullying despite the lack of her participation in this initiative compared to former First Ladies.
Though FLOTUS decided to not pay attention to the riot on Wednesday, some White House staffers close to the POTUS and FLOTUS responded to the riot with resignations. Two of the top aides to the First Lady handed in their resignation immediately including chief of staff Stephanie Grisham (also served as Trump’s closest advisor, spokesperson, and speechwriter) and social secretary Anna Cristina Niceta.
