Former First Lady claims denial of crucial early access to White House residence.
According to Daily Mail Online, Melania Trump has accused the Obama administration of disrupting her family's transition into the White House in 2016.
Melania Trump, now 54, details the challenges she faced during the transitional period from New York to Washington D.C. in her 256-page book titled "Melania." She claims that longstanding protocols and political considerations hindered her ability to begin preparations for the family's relocation to the White House before Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017.
The former model asserts that it is customary for incoming First Families to initiate the moving process in December when the outgoing administration departs for the holidays. However, she states that her team's requests to visit the White House residence during this time were met with prolonged silence from Obama's staff.
Melania Trump emphasizes the importance of this early access period, explaining that it would have allowed her to take measurements, gather plans, and commence preparations for their new home. She expresses particular concern about creating a comfortable environment for her son Barron, who was 10 years old at the time.
The memoir reveals that when information about accessing the White House was finally provided, it contained numerous errors. This further delayed the planning process, forcing renovations to begin only after the inauguration when the Trump family had already moved in.
Melania Trump writes:
Unfortunately my plans to begin preparing the residence before the inauguration were disrupted by protocols and politics. [...] Those three weeks would have been crucial for taking measurements, gathering plans, and starting preparations.
She adds that the family initially focused on redecorating a dozen rooms in the private residence, with Barron's room being a top priority.
The former First Lady notes that the existing decor was outdated or not to her taste and that Barron's room required special attention as he was the first young boy to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr.
Melania Trump's memoir, published by Skyhorse Publishing, is available in two editions. A collector's edition, priced at $150, features 256 full-color pages and includes the author's signature. The standard memoir edition, containing 304 pages, is available for $40, with signed copies offered at $75.
Skyhorse Publishing, known for publishing works by Trump supporters such as former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and attorney Alan Dershowitz, has brought Melania Trump's account to the public. The book provides insights into her experiences as First Lady and her perspective on the transition of power in 2016.
The release of this memoir adds to the ongoing narrative surrounding the Trump presidency and the relationships between successive administrations. It highlights the complexities and potential tensions involved in the transfer of power at the highest level of American government.
Melania Trump has accused the Obamas of denying her early access to the White House in 2016, disrupting her plans to redecorate and reorganize the residence before the inauguration. She claimed that the denial of access was due to 'protocols and politics', which prevented her from preparing the White House to make it a comfortable home for her family. Despite her efforts to coordinate with the Obama team, Melania stated that she did not receive a timely response, which delayed her ability to start necessary renovations.
