Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump on New Year’s Eve 2022.Photo:Joe Raedle/GettyMelania Trump’s absence from her husband’s presidential campaign trail has been strategic,Donald Trumpclaims.During a preview of his upcoming interview onMeet the Pressthat aired on theTodayshow Friday, the former president, 77, toldnew moderator Kristen Welkerthat it’s been his decision not to bring Melania along ashe vies for a chance at reelection.“Honestly, I like to keep her away from it,” he said. “It’s so nasty and so mean.“That doesn’t mean Melania won’t be appearing down the line. “She’ll be with us. She’s very, very, supportive,” said Donald, suggesting that Melania, 53, would be on the trail at some point. “Soon, yeah, pretty soon. When it’s appropriate, but pretty soon.““She’s very popular, she actually is,” he continued. “She’s a private person — a great person, a very confident person — and she loves our country very much.“Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in October 2020.SAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyDonald said that for now, Melania remains focused on their 17-year-old son,Barron, and life as a mom in Palm Beach, Florida. “She’s right now with Barron at school,” said Donald. “She loves that boy.“That aligns with what a source told PEOPLE in August, in the wake ofDonald’s latest indictment out of Georgiaand the release ofhis historic mug shot.“Melania is good at taking care of business at hand which includes her own life, the life of her son, and the lives of her close family members,” the insider said, noting that “while Melania remains an ally of her husband, she privatelyfocuses on her own lifeand that of Barron.“Another source echoed Melania’s decision to stay out of the spotlight. “Melania publicly supports her husband but privatelyprefers a life with 100 percent privacyand no press scrutiny,” the source said.“She knows how her husband is but still believes there has been too much dumping on him and wants nothing to do with any of it,” the source continued. “She hates all of the legal problems and says very little about them anytime anywhere. She leads her own life.”Donald Trump, Melania Trump and son Barron Trump (center).Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Donald is facinga total of 91 criminal countsbetween four investigations, some of which have potential to land him in prison if convicted.In one unsealed, 38-count indictment, prosecutors allege former President Trump retained over 100 classified documents after leaving the White House and lied to his own attorneys (and, in some cases, instructed them to lie) to attempt to obstruct the investigation and hide that he was possessing some of the documents.In another preview of his interview with Welker onMeet the PressthatTodayaired Friday,Donald said he’d testify under oath denying he asked a staffer to delete security-camera footage at his Mar-a-Lago residence so it wouldn’t get into the hands of investigators.“That’s false. False,” he said about the allegation before insulting the prosecutor and claiming that no tapes were deleted. “And they were my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them the tapes, I don’t think.“Meet the Press with Kristen Welkerairs Sunday (9 a.m. ET) on NBC.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump on New Year’s Eve 2022.Photo:Joe Raedle/Getty
Joe Raedle/Getty
Melania Trump’s absence from her husband’s presidential campaign trail has been strategic,Donald Trumpclaims.During a preview of his upcoming interview onMeet the Pressthat aired on theTodayshow Friday, the former president, 77, toldnew moderator Kristen Welkerthat it’s been his decision not to bring Melania along ashe vies for a chance at reelection.“Honestly, I like to keep her away from it,” he said. “It’s so nasty and so mean.“That doesn’t mean Melania won’t be appearing down the line. “She’ll be with us. She’s very, very, supportive,” said Donald, suggesting that Melania, 53, would be on the trail at some point. “Soon, yeah, pretty soon. When it’s appropriate, but pretty soon.““She’s very popular, she actually is,” he continued. “She’s a private person — a great person, a very confident person — and she loves our country very much.“Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in October 2020.SAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyDonald said that for now, Melania remains focused on their 17-year-old son,Barron, and life as a mom in Palm Beach, Florida. “She’s right now with Barron at school,” said Donald. “She loves that boy.“That aligns with what a source told PEOPLE in August, in the wake ofDonald’s latest indictment out of Georgiaand the release ofhis historic mug shot.“Melania is good at taking care of business at hand which includes her own life, the life of her son, and the lives of her close family members,” the insider said, noting that “while Melania remains an ally of her husband, she privatelyfocuses on her own lifeand that of Barron.“Another source echoed Melania’s decision to stay out of the spotlight. “Melania publicly supports her husband but privatelyprefers a life with 100 percent privacyand no press scrutiny,” the source said.“She knows how her husband is but still believes there has been too much dumping on him and wants nothing to do with any of it,” the source continued. “She hates all of the legal problems and says very little about them anytime anywhere. She leads her own life.”Donald Trump, Melania Trump and son Barron Trump (center).Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Donald is facinga total of 91 criminal countsbetween four investigations, some of which have potential to land him in prison if convicted.In one unsealed, 38-count indictment, prosecutors allege former President Trump retained over 100 classified documents after leaving the White House and lied to his own attorneys (and, in some cases, instructed them to lie) to attempt to obstruct the investigation and hide that he was possessing some of the documents.In another preview of his interview with Welker onMeet the PressthatTodayaired Friday,Donald said he’d testify under oath denying he asked a staffer to delete security-camera footage at his Mar-a-Lago residence so it wouldn’t get into the hands of investigators.“That’s false. False,” he said about the allegation before insulting the prosecutor and claiming that no tapes were deleted. “And they were my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them the tapes, I don’t think.“Meet the Press with Kristen Welkerairs Sunday (9 a.m. ET) on NBC.
Melania Trump’s absence from her husband’s presidential campaign trail has been strategic,Donald Trumpclaims.
During a preview of his upcoming interview onMeet the Pressthat aired on theTodayshow Friday, the former president, 77, toldnew moderator Kristen Welkerthat it’s been his decision not to bring Melania along ashe vies for a chance at reelection.
“Honestly, I like to keep her away from it,” he said. “It’s so nasty and so mean.”
That doesn’t mean Melania won’t be appearing down the line. “She’ll be with us. She’s very, very, supportive,” said Donald, suggesting that Melania, 53, would be on the trail at some point. “Soon, yeah, pretty soon. When it’s appropriate, but pretty soon.”
“She’s very popular, she actually is,” he continued. “She’s a private person — a great person, a very confident person — and she loves our country very much.”
Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in October 2020.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
Donald said that for now, Melania remains focused on their 17-year-old son,Barron, and life as a mom in Palm Beach, Florida. “She’s right now with Barron at school,” said Donald. “She loves that boy.”
That aligns with what a source told PEOPLE in August, in the wake ofDonald’s latest indictment out of Georgiaand the release ofhis historic mug shot.
“Melania is good at taking care of business at hand which includes her own life, the life of her son, and the lives of her close family members,” the insider said, noting that “while Melania remains an ally of her husband, she privatelyfocuses on her own lifeand that of Barron.”
Another source echoed Melania’s decision to stay out of the spotlight. “Melania publicly supports her husband but privatelyprefers a life with 100 percent privacyand no press scrutiny,” the source said.
“She knows how her husband is but still believes there has been too much dumping on him and wants nothing to do with any of it,” the source continued. “She hates all of the legal problems and says very little about them anytime anywhere. She leads her own life.”
Donald Trump, Melania Trump and son Barron Trump (center).Getty Images
Getty Images
Meanwhile, Donald is facinga total of 91 criminal countsbetween four investigations, some of which have potential to land him in prison if convicted.
In one unsealed, 38-count indictment, prosecutors allege former President Trump retained over 100 classified documents after leaving the White House and lied to his own attorneys (and, in some cases, instructed them to lie) to attempt to obstruct the investigation and hide that he was possessing some of the documents.
In another preview of his interview with Welker onMeet the PressthatTodayaired Friday,Donald said he’d testify under oath denying he asked a staffer to delete security-camera footage at his Mar-a-Lago residence so it wouldn’t get into the hands of investigators.
“That’s false. False,” he said about the allegation before insulting the prosecutor and claiming that no tapes were deleted. “And they were my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them the tapes, I don’t think.”
Meet the Press with Kristen Welkerairs Sunday (9 a.m. ET) on NBC.
source: people.com
