Melania Trump says she was 'blindsided' and 'heartbroken' by family separation policy
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Melania Trump has said that she was “blindsided” by the zero-tolerance immigration policy signed off by President Donald Trump that has led to the separation of immigrant families at the US border.
The first lady said that she was “heartbroken” by the removal of children from their parents and it us that that prompted an unannounced visit to the southern border earlier this year.
“I saw it on the news, and I reacted right away,” Ms Trump said in an interview for ABC News’ special Being Melania. “It was unacceptable for me to see children and parents separated. It was heartbreaking. And I reacted with my own voice.”
She made it clear to Mr Trump that the policy needed to change. ”I didn’t know that that policy would come out. I was blindsided by it. I told him at home, and I said to him that I feel that’s unacceptable, and he felt the same.“
It was on the border visit that Ms Trump was criticised for wearing a jacket with the words “I really don’t care, do u?” on the back. The first lady said that the jacket was aimed at the left-wing media who criticise her.
“It was kind of a message, yes. I would prefer that they focus on what I do and my initiatives than what I wear,” she said. “I want to show them that I don’t care. You could criticise whatever you want to say, but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right.”
Melania Trump on #MeToo movement: 'we need to have really hard evidence'
Ms Trump has also faced criticism over her anti-cyber bullying initiative, given the tone of Mr Trump’s Twitter feed. Pressed on the issue, the first lady said: “I could say that I’m the most bullied person in the world”.
The first lady said that the relationship between her and husband Donald Trump is “fine” and that she has “much more important things to think about” than allegations he cheated on her.
Ms Trump said she is “a mother and a first lady” and that allegations of her husband’s infidelities are not a “concern and focus.” Asked if she loves her husband, she says, “Yes, we are fine. Yes.”
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Adult actor Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had sex with President Trump in 2006. Mr Trump has denied the allegation but has has acknowledged reimbursing his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush money payment made to her before the 2016 election.
Speaking about the wider #MeToo movement, given the fact her husband has been accused of sexual misconduct by the a number of women, the first lady said she supports both women and men but that they must present “really hard evidence”. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
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Ms Trump said that she was a “strong” woman who enjoys life in Washington DC – and it was a misconception to thing otherwise. However, she said that there have been, and still are, a number of people in the White House she does not trust.
“It’s harder to govern,” the first lady said, adding that she tells her husband her “honest opinions” – including about those who she does not trust. “You always need to watch your back,” she said.
To see how the day and interview unfolded see our live coverage below.
The last segment is about how scrutinised her marriage is. The advice she would have given herself before heading into the White House is: "listen to yourself as you always listen to yourself".
Here is a quick rundown of the biggest quotes from the interview:
- Speaking about the "misconception" the first lady does not live in the capital:
“I love Washington. I love to live there. And I made the White House home — for our son and my husband — and we love to live in the White House”
“We are very honored to serve our great nation,” she added.
- In whether allegations of affairs by the president, which is denies, have put a strain on their marriage:
“I'm a mother and a first lady, and I have much more important things to think about and to do... It is not a concern and focus of mine.”
- On the #MeToo movement and sexual assault accusers:
“I support the women – they need to be heard. We need to support them. And also men, not just women,” Trump said. “You cannot just say to somebody… ‘I was sexually assaulted’ or ‘You did that to me.’ Because sometimes the media goes too far and the way they portray some stories, it’s not correct. It’s not right.”
- On the criticism of her anti-cyber bullying campaign:
“I could say that I'm the most bullied person in the world... One of them, if you really see what people are saying about me.”
- On the 'I really don't care' jacket she wore when heading to see separated families at the US border:
“[It was] for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing me. I want to show them that I don't care. You could criticise whatever you want to say, but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right.”
“It was kind of a message, yes. I would prefer that they would focus on what I do and on my initiatives than what I wear”.
- On how the first lady does not trust some people still working at the White House:
"It's harder to govern... You always need to watch your back."
- On the policy of family separations for immigrants crossing the border:
"I let him know. I didn't know that that policy would come out. I was blindsided by it." Ms Trump told the president she found the policy "unacceptable".
- On life in Washington DC:
“I don't feel like a prisoner. No. I [am] enjoying it, and this will not last forever. And it's [a] very special time”.
-On apologies in the White House:
Question: “During the Access Hollywood incident during the campaign, your husband apologised to you. Has your husband apologised to you since you've been in the White House?”
Malania Trump: “Yeah, he apologised” - before then declining to divulge further details.
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