Melania Didn't Take News Of Trump's Affairs Lightly; Stormy Daniels Case Is 'Humiliating' Her: Ex-Aide
Melania Trump is likely upset as her husband Donald Trump's alleged affair with Stormy Daniels returns to the spotlight ahead of his upcoming hush-money criminal trial, a former aide has claimed.
When Trump's alleged infidelities first emerged in 2018, Melania publicly dismissed the allegations as "gossip" and insisted she and her husband were "fine."
However, Stephanie Grisham -- who was Melania's communications director at the time and was by her side when the alleged affairs were dominating headlines -- told CNN Wednesday that the former first lady was angrier than she appeared and "didn't take it lightly at all."
The former White House press secretary claimed Melania expressed her feelings on the matter through her actions rather than her words.
"We went to the State of the Union separately. She refused to walk out to Marine One with him because she didn't want to be like Hillary Clinton and standing (sic) by her man," Grisham said.
Melania broke a longstanding tradition and did not ride in the same car as the then-president during Trump's 2018 State of the Union address, which took place just days after news of his alleged affairs broke.
A week prior, the then-first lady also canceled her planned trip with her husband to Davos, Switzerland, and returned to Florida alone. At the time, Grisham, as her spokesperson, cited "scheduling and logistical issues" as the reasons for Melania backing out of the trip.
Describing the former model as "a very independent and strong woman," Grisham told CNN she believes Trump's alleged affairs with Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal resurfacing in the media has likely reignited tensions in the marriage.
The former aide suggested that Melania may now be urging her husband to "make this stop" and would "push" him to go on the witness stand during the criminal trial, which starts Monday, to defend himself in public.
"Because this is this is very, very embarrassing for her. It's humiliating for her, and I can guarantee you that she's not happy right now and that he's quite worried about that," Grisham claimed of Melania.
Trump faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in connection with payments made to Daniels allegedly to buy her silence before the 2016 election about their alleged sexual encounter.
The Republican presidential candidate has denied ever having an affair and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During a 2018 interview with "60 Minutes," Daniels claimed that she had sex with Trump less than four months after Melania gave birth to the couple's only child, Barron Trump, in 2006.
The adult film actress also alleged that she signed a non-disclosure agreement just days before the 2016 election to keep quiet about the alleged sexual encounter because she felt threatened and was "concerned" for her family's safety.
In exchange for signing the agreement, she was paid $130,000 by Trump's then-attorney, Michael Cohen.
At the time, Melania's then-spokesperson Grisham responded via X, formerly Twitter, by slamming the "speculation" and "salacious gossip."
While I know the media is enjoying speculation & salacious gossip, Id like to remind people there’s a minor child who’s name should be kept out of news stories when at all possible.
— Stephanie Grisham 45 Archived (@StephGrisham45) March 26, 2018
Cohen was sentenced to prison in 2018 for several crimes, including campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments to Daniels and McDougal.
Both Daniels and Cohen are expected to testify in the upcoming trial. It is unclear if Trump will take the stand.
Melania previously brushed off the reports during an interview with ABC News in October 2018, saying of her marriage to Trump, "We are fine."
"It's what media speculate, and it's gossip," she added. "It's not always correct stuff."
However, last year, an unnamed source told People that Melania "remains angry and doesn't want to hear [the alleged hush-money payment] mentioned."
The insider also claimed that Melania has been angry about his alleged affair with Daniels since it first made headlines in 2018.
Despite this, the former first lady has made more public appearances with her husband in recent months.
Melania recently accompanied Trump to a fundraiser in Florida and several events at their Palm Beach resort Mar-a-Lago.
