In a recent interview, Melania Trump shared insights about her upcoming $40 million documentary, her plans for her residence as first lady, and whether Barron will join her at the White House.
The incoming first lady opened up in a sit down with Ainsley Earhardt on Fox & Friends about her plans for her second term in the White House.
Unlike her initial years as the first lady, Melania expressed her intention to have a more visible presence at the White House going forward. Apart from her documentary project, she also aims to further develop her Be Best initiative.
She explained how she feels much more prepared to be the presidential spouse this time around.
‘I know where I will be going. I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process,’ she said.
During her previous term as the first lady, Melania focused primarily on nurturing Barron, her son, who was just 11 years old when Donald Trump assumed the presidency for the first time. Barron, who grew up in the White House during his teenage years, was shielded from the public eye by his mother, who was very protective of him.
But Barron is 18 now and a freshman at New York University. She said he will come visit.
‘He will come and visit, yes,’ she said. ‘I feel that children we have them feel they are like 18, 19 years old. We teach them, we guide them. And then we give them the wings to fly. And I always respect Barron’s yes and no and what he likes to do, where he would like to be.’
Melania Trump also offered new details about her forthcoming documentary.
She said it was her idea and it came to her after her memoir, Melania, became a best seller.
‘The book was such a success and I’m very proud and I get so many messages and letters how they enjoy the book. And they would love – my fans and people would love – to hear more from me. So I had an idea to make a movie, to make a film about my life,’ she said.
‘My life is incredible. It’s incredibly busy. And I told my agent, you know, I have this idea. So please, you know, go out and make a deal for me.’
The film will focus on what it’s like for her to return to the White House for a second term. It will be released in theaters this fall and later air on Amazon.
Amazon shelled out $40 million for the rights to the documentary. It’s unclear how much of that money went to the incoming first lady, who is listed as a producer on the film.
Melania Trump is not subject to the kind of federal rules on money making that Donald Trump is as president. She is not a government employee and faces no legal restrictions on profiting financially as first lady.
The documentary started filming in November and will continue production through Inauguration Day.
‘It’s a day-to-day life what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have,’ she said.
‘People don’t really know and they will see it – it’s day-to-day from transition team to moving to the White House, packing, establishing my team,’ she adding, noting it will include ‘ what it takes to make the residence your home. To hire the people that you need.’
There have been reports Melania Trump will be a part-time first lady, spending much of her time in New York where her son Barron Trump is a student at New York University.
But she said she will be in the White House as needed.
‘I will be in the White House. When I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach,’ she said.
‘My first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on January 20, you serve the country.’
Melania Trump revealed she’s already chosen the furniture and other items for the upper floors where the first family lives. And it will mostly be like it was four years ago when the Trumps lived there.
‘A little bit of changes. Not much,’ she said.
White House staff spend January 20th moving the Bidens out and the Trumps inside.
Moving trucks were spotted at the White House last week. Packing material – piles of boxes and rolls of bubble wrap – were unloaded to begin wrapping up the Bidens’ belongings.
The staff has about five hours on Inauguration Day to flip the residence. When the Trumps enter the upper floors after the swearing-in ceremony, all of their belongs will be unpacked and waiting on them.
‘The first time was challenging,’ Melania admitted of moving into the White House in January 2017.
‘We didn’t have much of the information the information was upheld for us from previous administration but this time I have everything. I have the plans. I could move in. I already packed. I already selected the, you know, the furniture that needs to go in. So, it’s very different transition this time, second time around.’
Now she feels more prepared.
She said she has hired a few positions for her East Wing staff but will wait to hire more. And she plans to revive her signature Be Best campaign, which focused on helping children.
‘I have a few positions I need to hire,’ she said. ‘I will not rush into that. I will see when I’m in the White House and what is needed. I don’t want to hire too many people on my team and spending too much taxpayer money. I want to make sure every position they are talented, they have merit. They know what they are doing. And as well as they are a team player. They don’t have their own agenda so, they serving me.’
In her second term as first lady, Melania Trump said she wants to expand Be Best and hopes she gets support from the business community in her efforts.
‘I started in the first administration I didn’t have much support from anyone. I invited all of the streaming platforms to the White House. I had the round table. And I didn’t have much support from them. And imagine what we could do in those years if they would rally behind me and teach the children and protect them about the social media and their mental health.’
And Melania Trump made it clear she will be her own woman in her second term as first lady.
‘I feel I was always me the first time as well,’ she said.
‘I just feel that people didn’t accept me, maybe. They didn’t understand me the way maybe they do now. And I didn’t have much support. Maybe some people they see me as just a wife of the president. But I’m standing on my own two feet. Independent. I have my own thoughts. I have my own yes and no. I don’t always agree what my husband is saying or doing, and that’s okay.’
