Melania Trump’s public role is faced with a new rumor after former White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews claimed the first lady was largely absent during Donald Trump’s first administration.
During an appearance on the On Sunday with Jack Cocchiarella podcast hosted by MeidasTouch, Matthews alleged that Melania was paid to attend campaign events.
Matthews served on Trump’s 2020 campaign and later as deputy White House press secretary. She resigned from the latter post after the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Matthew's claimed that during her tenure at the White House she never met Melania despite working closely with the administration.
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What did Sarah Matthews say?
“When I was working on the campaign for a year and then at the White House… the only person I never met was Melania Trump,” Matthews said on the podcast. She added that it was “a known thing” that the first lady “didn’t want to be around” the White House.
Matthews also alleged that Melania preferred spending time in New York rather than living in the White House. According to her, Melania described the White House as “old and falling apart.”
{{/usCountry}}Matthews also alleged that Melania preferred spending time in New York rather than living in the White House. According to her, Melania described the White House as “old and falling apart.”
{{/usCountry}}Matthews also claimed, without presenting evidence, that Melania received payment for appearing at campaign events alongside her husband. “It’s been reported that Melania gets paid for showing up at events when they were on the campaign trail,” she said. HT.com has not independently verified that claim.
Melania's prolonged absence and recent appearance
Matthews' comments have come at crucial time as Melania Trump returned to the White House Rose Garden earlier this week for the Fostering the Future event. This is an initiative and a cause she has previously publicly supported.
The appearance ended a gap of more than a month without a public event.
Matthews suggested the timing of Melania’s appearance was notable because it came immediately after Trump's executive assistant Natalie Harp came to spotlight. Harp has attracted attention in recent weeks because of reports examining her close working relationship with the president.
Matthews speculated that Melania may have been unhappy with the reports.
The Daily Beast has also previously reported that Melania has made comparatively few public appearances during Trump’s second term. According to the publication’s analysis, she has averaged one appearance every six days, dropping to roughly one every 12 days during the summer.
It also reported that she has delivered significantly fewer speeches than former first lady Michelle Obama during a comparable period.
Freedom 250 race clip fuels fresh speculation
The discussion gained further traction after a video circulated on X during the Freedom 250, an IndyCar race held on August 23 at Washington, d.c.
The clip, shared by the account @donkoclock, claimed to show Melania leaving a viewing area shortly after Natalie Harp appeared nearby. The post caption read, “Melania leaves as soon as Natalie Harp is spotted in the booth.”
The video has been widely shared online, but its context and the reason for Melania’s departure have not been independently verified.