First Lady Melania Trump may demonstrate a penchant for shunning the limelight, but she’s no less complicit in her husband’s disastrous administration than the simpering, more outspoken members of his cabinet. Her refusal to denounce his cruel agenda, racism, xenophobia, and illiberalism represents a deep moral failing that will haunt her for the rest of her life.
Lest anyone be fooled into thinking she’s even considering doing the right thing, she released a statement today throwing her support behind President Trump’s incessant war on the free press.
Yesterday, an Op-Ed written by an anonymous top official in the Trump administration ran in The New York Times igniting a wildfire of speculation. The piece painted the White House as a complete disaster zone, with Trump aides ignoring his orders and working behind his back to wield his executive power for themselves and prevent his worst impulses from coming to fruition.
Now, The Washington Post reports that Melania has released an official statement in response to the Op-Ed. In it, she calls the unknown official “cowardly” and acts as if the greatest threat to democracy is anonymous sources speaking to newspapers and not her husband actively trying to undermine the foundations of our democracy.
It’s a disingenuous, pathetic statement, and unfortunately exactly the kind of thing we’ve come to expect from our so-called First Lady. The full statement reads:
“Freedom of speech is an important pillar of our nation’s founding principles and a free press is important to our democracy. The press should be fair, unbiased and responsible.”
“Unidentified sources have become the majority of the voices people hear about in today’s news. People with no names are writing our nation’s history. Words are important, and accusations can lead to severe consequences. If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand by their words and people have the right to be able to defend themselves.”
“To the writer of the oped — you are not protecting this country, you are sabotaging it with your cowardly actions.”
Criticism of Melania Trump’s sprang up immediately, with many Twitter users casting doubt on whether she even wrote the statement herself. Others focused on the rank hypocrisy it takes for the First Lady to talk about protecting the country while she continues to shield her incompetent, evil husband.
Melania Trump is married to a 72 year-old man who has spent the better part of five decades leaking malicious and damaging rumors and information about friends, enemy and his own family members to gossip pages and reporters. So let's take her distaste under advisement. https://t.co/dJj2NhhIvl
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) September 6, 2018
Mike Pence is calling on the op-ed writer to resign, Melania said they are sabotaging the country, and Sarah Huckabee tweeted out the number for the NYT’s op-ed desk. This is like the least competent Avengers squad ever.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) September 6, 2018
Melania Trump allegedly speaks five languages and wrote today’s press statement all by herself.
In a related story, my elite team of leprechaun ninjas is the world’s most feared fighting force when they’re not training my legendary dancing unicorns.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) September 6, 2018
Melania Trump is married to a 72 year-old man who has spent the better part of five decades leaking malicious and damaging rumors and information about friends, enemy and his own family members to gossip pages and reporters. So let's take her distaste under advisement. https://t.co/dJj2NhhIvl
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) September 6, 2018
Simply laughable for those who believe this actually originates with @FLOTUS
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) September 6, 2018
Dear hypocritical POS @FLOTUS,
The entire racist #birther conspiracy theory THAT YOU FULLY SUPPORTED was based on “anonymous sources” and your husband saying, “I’m hearing people saying,” without specifying whom. So please STFU about anonymous sources, you plagiarizing liar.
— Tennesseine (@Tennesseine) September 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/NBostar/status/1037782648125566976
Melania Trump to op-ed writer: You are 'sabotaging' our country – CNNPolitics #SmartNews Dear Melania @FLOTUS, the biggest and most brazen saboteur, security risk & embarrassment to our Country is your husband @realDonaldTrump… #resist https://t.co/p2YhivjDOF
— mrbeast55 (@bote930) September 6, 2018
So…Melania publicizes a ghost-written statement to criticize people who write anonymously? #BeBest pic.twitter.com/V1tLdlVeE2
— Shomeo (@SassBaller) September 6, 2018