While I have no respect for Melania and never had....

[hlthe2b]

(she knew what she was getting into when she married this horrid man), but I have to ask:

How much more degradation is she going to tolerate? How much more humiliation?

I have certainly known people who would sell their soul for $$, power, prestige. Sarah Huckabee Sander--wraps herself in her warped sense of faith/Xianity. But geebus, I just don't get it with Melania, even more so than with Ivanka (or most of the other women in his circle)

[Zoonart]

1. From my tin foil hat to you....

I think Melania is his handler.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. You're not the only one. I have heard that from more people than I would have ever expected.

[Bettie]

6. My beloved husband has been saying this for a long time

So, you're not the only one with that particular hat!

[forgotmylogin]

9. Possible, but more realistically...

I suspect she's trapped by a pre-nup. If she leaves him, he'll take everything from her, and it's probably all legal in boilerplate with both their signatures.

I had read a rumor that before the election there was an agreement that she would stay with him (for optics) until he lost the election and could have been planning to leave him. History plays out.

I don't at all doubt there are situations where she does have very specific tasks to keep him in line and get him to stand in the right spot, not wander off on a runway...etc.

[moriah]

11. After Ivana? No doubt on the pre-nup.

Plus they have a kid, and while I don't want to disparage him, some pictures people have posted do suggest the suggestions he might be on the spectrum are accurate...

With Trump's money, if the son *does* have any special nerds, his lawyers would eat her alive suggesting he was more capable of providing caregivers. Not love, of course. And I don't recall NY divorce law well enough despite my divorce happening in NY (and certainly don't know DC law if them living in DC could let her file there) if they go by "equal" or "equitable" distribution of costs for medical care/supervision for children.

And I doubt she's actually experienced much of America outside of Trump's bubble. He married her when she was young, new to the country, and easily impressionable. She might not be able to imagine change enough to even see it as a viable alternative.

If nothing else, his temper and bad health suggest she might not have to wait for her son to grow up before his McD's habit catches up with him. By the time he's out of college... she'll probably be free without having to resort to a pillow a la The Tudors. And if that's the bargain she decided to make... well, I won't say she didn't earn any inheritance putting up with his ass.

[Irish_Dem]

15. She came over illegally as a "model", worked higher end clients and

snagged a big fish. She had a baby by Trump so she will get some money in a divorce.

[moriah]

21. Yeah, and I'm sure if we know, he knows, and his lawyers know...

... what better way to ensure you have a compliant wife than know she'd potentially been duped by her agency, agree to cover it up, etc? And who knows what fingers he may have had in that agency, even just the influence of being who he was?

There's a reason that the marriage visa system has a loophole for domestic violence. While some men and women who come here to get their Mr/s degree and accompanying permanent residency are quite cynically aware of the realities, I'm an unidentified homicide victim case geek (there are so many people out there who remain nameless) and one victim was finally identified as a Russian bride murdered by her USC husband.

I don't know which Melania was/is, but even the life of a model isn't what the average everyday American experiences. Even if she may look at pillows with temptation, I don't think she'll leave at least until her son is grown. It would be change, and change is scary.

[Irish_Dem]

23. I think the marriage was over and wife #4 was waiting.

Melania was planning her new life. She had her anchor baby and meal ticket.

And with Melania I use the term "model" in quotes for a reason.
And yes I believe Trump was involved with the "agency."

Trump is abusive to her, at least verbally, we have that on tape.

[virgogal]

49. She probably stays with him for the same reason that Hillary stayed

with President Clinton.

He has power and that power rubs off.

I don't understand the loyalty of either one of these ladies.

[comradebillyboy]

52. Love the gratuitous Hillary smear there.

I don't think you understand loyalty.

[virgogal]

74. Loyalty is nice but facts are facts.

[moriah]

62. Ever heard of open marriages?

Not every person is demanding of monogamy. Some others decide that they love their husbands/wives enough and other things make up for it. Some might want to screw other people themselves, too. And if everyone is okay with it, *actually* okay with it, then it's none of anybody's damn business.

But in Arkansas? In 1978-1992? While in politics? The best anyone could hope for in Hillary's situation was that her husband would have the good sense to choose partners mature enough to keep a secret. It wasn't very well-kept even then, but then again with Bill McCuen flying women in state helicopters to impress them prior to bedding them, and offering entry-level state jobs to people who knew about his picadillos (my sister was one such witness), just screwing vs screwing and making the state pay for it was lower on the radar.

Where Bill screwed up in the political climate he was in during the impeachment was choosing a partner too immature in the ways of the world to not understand you don't gossip about an affair with the President, then lying about it under oath. In the current environment, however, one could easily say he screwed up by choosing someone he technically had power over, or could get favors for, aside from the fact that he didn't have the restraint to fend off young interns with crushes. The person, male or female, in the power position is the one with the responsibility to exercise restraint.

It's not 1978 anymore, or 1992, or 1998. It's almost 2018. The children born during Clinton's impeachment can vote now. The tabu isn't and shouldn't be violation of marriage vows that for all we know didn't include "forsaking all others", but whether a power dynamic exists that clouds issues of consent, and when consent isn't asked for or given.

But nice cheap shot.

[virgogal]

75. What you call a cheap shot I call an opinion,based on fact.

Hillary is a human being,she is not perfect anymore than I am.

I know times are different----but the discussion was about Melania,a First Lady,not her husband or his actions..

[moriah]

79. You essentially said Hillary stayed with Bill because she's power-hungry.

And while I'm sure Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch, of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, didn't appreciate Hillary's gaffe about Nancy Reagan and AIDS (yes, people are human and do fuck up), the meme Ken chose as the basis for Sister Vish is a prime example of the kind of attacks everyone makes about Hillary.

So not only cheap, but unoriginal.

[PearliePoo2]

39. Trump is an anti-vaxxer. He believes vaccines cause autism.

Since he has never given a rat's ass about anybody but himself, I find it odd that he would care about little children.
UNLESS...he was actually referring to his own son Barron when sent these tweets.

“It happened to somebody that worked for me recently,” he added. “I mean, they had this beautiful child, not a problem in the world, and all of the sudden they go in and they get this monster shot. You ever see the size of it? It’s like they’re pumping in — you know, it’s terrible, the amount. And they pump this in to this little body and then all of the sudden the child is different a month later. I strongly believe that’s it.”

"Massive combined inoculations to small children is the cause for big increase in autism...."


"Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases!"

"I am being proven right about massive vaccinations—the doctors lied. Save our children & their future."

[moriah]

70. Sadly I doubt he took/paid attention in statistics.

There's probably the same correlation with autism as with giving birth, period.

Plus, right now I know a preteen who was just diagnosed with Asperger's because she likes anime and Star Trek and is so smart she's sadly realizing how bad our world will be if people like Trump stay in power.

It's sad when "smart, unique and cynical a little too early" is diagnostic criteria for any "disorder".

Aka, the rapid rise of diagnosis doesn't necessarily equate to increase in prevalence.

But you know that. I suspect he knows that. And if he wants to visit with a survivor of polio to learn exactly what Post-Polio Syndrome does to the survivors, I know someone he can meet.

[Irish_Dem]

13. The rumor inside the beltway was that he was going to divorce her when

he lost the election. Mrs. Trump #4 is waiting in the wings.
This is from a good source, someone in the know, but the person
would not tell me the name of Trump's girlfriend.

Edit Spelling

[forgotmylogin]

22. That actually makes sense.

He was ready for a new candy out of the box, and of course, it would look bad as a candidate to be going through a divorce. He honestly didn't expect to win.

Then he got elected and that threw a snag in the plans.

[Irish_Dem]

24. Yes that is what happened. nt

[VermontKevin]

25. Hope Hicks.

Imagine her as a blonde. It's startling.

[Irish_Dem]

30. That is what I have pieced together as well.

The highly paid "assistant" who is his constant companion.

[gopiscrap]

54. Hope Hicks

[Irish_Dem]

12. I think it is a legit theory given Trump looks like a Russian asset.

All the money and grooming by Putin shows how Trump was cultivated.
Why not throw in another Russian asset into the picture to handle Trump.

Edited to add: I don't think we should underestimate Putin or his tactics.

[Zoonart]

14. Yep, Yep, Yep, and Yep!

[librechik]

26. Melania Took over the job from Ivana. T-Rump has belonged to Russia and her agents for decades.

[Alice11111]

34. I've read that when Rump won't pick up his phone, his advisos

call Melania to find him, and to give him her phone. It must be awful for her because she obviously doesn't want anything to do w him or his horrible Presidency. Nonetheless, in that
sense, she could be his handler. Otherwise, she wants to be left alone until such time as she can get a divorce, IMO. She doesnt want the spotlight.

He treated her like shit before she was 1st Lady. Then, when she got more respect than any of the Trumps, not very hard, he seemed to want a positive public show. It didn't play well when she flung his hand away.

If she is smart, she will keep her distance so as not to get caught up in the trump mobster dealings.

[pandr32]

36. Ivana comes from a Soviet bloc country as well

Apparently, the Trump children spent much time with their pro-Russian grandparents during holidays.

[Kirk Lover]

50. She most certainly is not...she is just a prop.

[jrthin]

2. Melania, through her actions, has shown you

who she is. Why do you not believe her? Why do you not believe that she is just as odious as her husband? Like attract like.

[onecaliberal]

3. There is NO bottom for these people. They will go as low as he takes them.

He’s a sick piece of shit.

[PJMcK]

5. Hope Hicks is the mystery woman

She goes to extreme lengths to avoid the media. That's very strange behavior for the White House Communications Director.

From the little bit I've been able to find out about her, she truly admires Trump. Who knows, maybe she's not too bright.

In any event, her proximity to Trump has made her an important witness in Robert Mueller's investigation. I believe she was interviewed last week. It will be interesting to see what her role has been in the acts of Trump's campaign/transition/administration.

[CrispyQ]

7. Three handlers? Ivanka, Melania & Hope?

They probably work in shifts. The man is losing it.

[Irish_Dem]

18. No one can control him, not even a Marine Corps General (Kelly). nt

[brush]

8. She's the conduit to trump. Compromising info is sent to her, not to trump...

she passes it on and he has plausible deniability.

That won't work with Mueller though.

[NCjack]

16. She will rise to manage the prison warden's office.

[Irish_Dem]

19. Right, a big mistake on her part. Now she is part of the investigation. nt

[Alice11111]

35. Sounds about right, using her to protect this piece of garbage.

[Irish_Dem]

17. Yes that is what I am piecing together as well.

The highly paid "assistant" who is his constant and close companion.

[Orsino]

10. She married a disgusting man-child.

Yeah, her humiliation is on display to a wider audience these days, but nothing qualitative has changed. At some level, it must beat both starvation as a former model who never wed him AND the vindictiveness of him as an ex-husband.

I suppose she could bail, but the NDA would prevent her selling some tell-all memoir. I think she's not very involved in his life, anyway, and has little dirt on him.

[Irish_Dem]

20. I think she is smart, married a meal ticket, and made sure to get dirt on him.

I am certain there is a NDA, but she would have other ways to level the playing field with him. She was also trying to start her own business, I believe it was because she wanted a revenue stream after the divorce.

And yes I think they lead separate lives. I don't think she was even going to move to Wash DC at all, but someone "persuaded" her to do so.

From the way she interacts with her husband it looks like she hates him.

Edited to add: We know he verbally abuses her. He did it during the inauguration events. The scene where she is smiling broadly. standing behind him. He turns and says something to her and her face falls in shock and upset. I have an idea what he probably said to her. Only a few things will cause a woman to react that way.

[Alice11111]

38. I guess I am slow, but what do you think he said?

I agree she hates him. She would actually have the most leverage if she divorced him now. He would give her about anything to go away quietly, but she better get everything up front. He could set aside the Prenup. Once he is sinking, his agreements and contracts will be worthless. I would assume she has good lawyers, then again, one pleaded that she was deprived of using her position as First Lady to build her business!@#$@!
Technically, alimony is not dischargeable in BK. However, he would keep her tied up in litigation for life.

She obviously isn't the smartest gal around.

[Irish_Dem]

44. I am sure some sort of deal was cut for her to move to the WH.

And at the time of his insulting remarks to her at the Inauguration, I was fairly certain about the kind of thing he said to her. And probably no one would have believed me. But I think after reading all of Trump's tweets, especially the ones from today (calling a female Senator names), it is obvious.

It was probably quite vulgar and unkind.

I think he said something like: "Gee now you are First Lady, not bad for a W*ore from Slovania who came to the US without a pot to pee in..."

[NastyRiffraff]

27. $$$$$$$

That's it. She was a second tier (at best) model before she married him; she certainly wasn't rich. Her body language screams that she despises him, but the pre-nup is probably the only thing that keeps her with him. That, and Barron. Dump would be mean enough to deny her access to the boy if she left him.

[janterry]

31. He supports her parents, too.

I'd walk, if I were her - anyway. Life is too short for this bargain. But Trump is an old man, and whatever he offers to Barron as his son - well, that will be important for her to secure. (It would be for me.....having 'started this whole mess' I'd at least like to see my son very well taken care of.....).

[Alice11111]

40. He could not deny her access. The primary caretaker

gets the child or there is joint custody. In his case, it is easily proven, he has no intetest, never has. Measue time spent with the hild and who takes care of his activities. There initial agreement was if they had a child, she would be the caretaker.

The prenup could probably be set aside or negotiated away. It very often happens, especially in big money divorces. She should do it before he is down and out though...if he ever is.

[Irish_Dem]

47. I agree on custody. But the deal has already been cut I think.

Melania refused to move to the WH initially, and then she did and has made an effort to be First Lady.

I assume she only did this for some sort of cash settlement. If she moved to Wash DC with a quid pro quo then she is not as smart as I think she is.

Kind of like the deal Jackie Kennedy made with her father-in- law Joe Kennedy.
Before JFK ran for president, Jackie had had enough of his philandering and was going to divorce him. Joe Kennedy called her into his office and said: " Listen my son is going to be president of the US, and he cannot do it if you divorce him. What is your price to stay."

There was a cash settlement and the rest is history.

[EffieBlack]

43. One book deal would probably more than pay for the NDA breach damages.

[NastyRiffraff]

48. Good point

Surely she can find a good ghostwriter.

[EffieBlack]

53. One of the reasons I don't understand why people claim to be so afraid to release the Apprentice tap

Surely there are plenty of very wealthy people who could cover NDA breach award Trump exacts.

[Gothmog]

28. I am not a fan of the new first lady

[Irish_Dem]

29. She looks quite depressed, look at her Christmas decorations at the WH.

The highly publicized Christmas decor at the WH, indicates a woman who
is depressed, sees a small hope at the end of a long dark tunnel, but is having trouble connecting to that hope.

[janterry]

32. Maybe depressed

But, to my eye, more like a fashion show. It had no humanity - just some of that runway look to it.

[Irish_Dem]

45. Yes of course, that too. Superficial, cold and ostentatious.

Nothing at all Christmasy about it.

The things we create are mirrors into our psyches.
And her creation said a lot about her.

[FakeNoose]

73. Melania grew up in a Communist country

... where they probably never celebrated Christmas like we know it. I mean, the Iron Curtain countries were officially atheist while they were part of the Soviet bloc, am I right? Melania's sense of fashion design, as well as the choices she made for the White House Christmas display, are indicative of a childhood spent in a Soviet bloc country. Not to be ridiculed, maybe, but more to be understood.

I think Melania is more sad and pathetic than evil and cruel like her husband. I hope she has a good lawyer otherwise she'll be left with nothing when Trump goes down. Hope Hicks really will get nothing, she's "waiting in the wings" for nothing.

[Alice11111]

41. Really. That sent a strong message. Intended, IMO.

[Irish_Dem]

58. What do you believe is the intended message? nt

[Alice11111]

61. In the Whitehouse, death, destruction, depression, a long

Winter, hopelessness, a lack of happiness, severe reality, isolation, loneliness....

[Irish_Dem]

63. Absolutely, you hit the nail on the head.

Also you can see the tiny Christmas tree at the very end of the tunnel.
This represents something that gives her a tiny bit of joy and happiness.
But it feels far away from her.

[Alice11111]

64. Yes, a work of art, in some ways

[Irish_Dem]

65. Anything we create reflects our inner workings, our psyche. nt

[Pachamama]

55. Was that an intentional reference to small "hope" at the end of a long dark tunnel....

Hope Hicks?



(It made me laugh - somehow it was correct)

[Irish_Dem]

59. Wow, not consciously. But maybe Hope Hicks represents freedom to Melania.

Hicks takes on "wifely duties" with Trump and Melanie gets her freedom.

[Pachamama]

67. Exactly what I was thinking....

Unintentional, yet strangely accurate....

[Irish_Dem]

69. Yes....it fits......

My professional career involves looking at pictures and drawings and making interpretive comments.

[dembotoz]

33. don't we all know relationships where you wonder why the fuck are they still together?

and with this one just add a shitload of cash and a minor child.

with divorce there is risk....who is to say that trump would not promote the divorce judge to a plum fed position for a favorable sentiment.

[Lotusflower70]

37. She made her choice

She promoted that birther bs. She is not innocent in all this.

[Alice11111]

42. I agree, but if she wants to escape,I can't blame her.

With the renewed focus on his sex abuse accusers, she may have her reason. If she defends him again, yuk, she deserves to be stuck.

[Irish_Dem]

60. I think she cut a deal when she came to WashDC and she is keeping her end of the bargain.

Acting as First Lady, helping him with plausible deniability, and smiling.

[Alice11111]

66. I hope she got her money out up front. His agreements

Are worthless after he has gotten his part done.

[Irish_Dem]

68. I assume it was cash placed into a non marital bank account.

I don't think she is stupid.

And there is a reason she is smiling and making nice.

[Alice11111]

71. Smiling when he checks to see, or when she does a few

things on her own, when he is totally not around, and she enjoys them. She stayed an extra day in Italy by herself.

[Irish_Dem]

72. Yep. nt

[jalan48]

46. She's got a great gig which pays really, really well.

Some people, men and women, are into it for the money.

[left-of-center2012]

51. I feel sorry for Barron Trump

It can't be easy having "The Donald" as your father.

[kelly1mm]

56. Didn't she marry him when he was Democrat and a big doner in NY Democratic circles? I

don't fault spouses for the sins of the other. Remember how we reacted when they tried to tie Bill's sins on Hillary .......

[hlthe2b]

57. I fault her for enabling his horrific behavior NOW.

[democratisphere]

76. Selling of the soul for money, so-called called fame and privalage.

It is that simple.

[Freethinker65]

77. Money does not buy happiness, but she and her extended family will now forever live in luxury

She knew what she was getting into, and may have even cared for him at one time. She was always just an eye candy trophy wife for Donald.

[ananda]

78. I always thought she was in it for the money.

She never looks happy .. pretty miserable in fact.

[kwalter66]

80. Of couse

She is in it for the money. Trump was able to buy her citizenship and allow her to live in that gaudy tower. She spit out Barron to ensure she kept the spigot open.