As Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House once again as the 47th President of the United States, former First Lady Melania Trump is reflecting on the challenges she faced the first time around. In a recent interview with Fox & Friends, Melania openly criticized the Obama administration, claiming that her team was left without crucial information during the 2016 transition.
“The first time was difficult. We didn’t have much of the information. It was upheld from us by the previous administration,” Melania explained. “But this time, I have everything.” Her comments suggest that the outgoing administration may have complicated the process more than was publicly known.
A Rocky Start in 2016
Melania has spoken about these frustrations before, even detailing them in her memoir. She wrote that her staff was denied timely access to the White House residence in December 2016. According to her, replies to their requests came weeks late, and when they did arrive, they contained mistakes. This delay meant that key renovations and preparations could not be completed until after the Trump family had already moved in.
On the other hand, Michelle Obama offered a different perspective in her bestselling memoir Becoming. Michelle claimed she extended support to Melania but was turned down. At the time, Melania’s spokesperson explained that she preferred to rely on her own trusted advisers rather than outside help.
Looking Ahead to a New Term
Despite those past complications, Melania emphasized that she feels more prepared this time. With experience behind her, she plans to take on her responsibilities as First Lady while also balancing her family’s life between Washington, New York, and Palm Beach.
Her remarks also shed light on the often unseen struggles of presidential transitions. While public ceremonies may appear smooth, behind the scenes, the handover of power can be tense, political, and sometimes personal.
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