# Melania Trump reveals plan to leverage presidency to ink ‘multi-million dollar’ endorsement deals **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211 "2017-02-07T06:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/1 "2017-02-07T06:04:00Z")
[https://thinkprogress.org/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals-1999314fb8f1](https://thinkprogress.org/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals-1999314fb8f1) > [@](#): > > In a lawsuit filed today, First Lady Melania Trump revealed her intention to leverage the presidency to ink new “licensing, branding, and endorsement” deals worth many millions of dollars. In the filing, Melania Trump’s lawyer described the position of First Lady as a “once-in-a-lifetime” money making opportunity. She told the court she intended to pursue deals in “apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care, and fragrance.” > … > The First Lady’s lawsuit is against the Daily Mail, which published a story repeating allegations in a Slovenian magazine that Melania Trump once worked as an escort. The allegations were unsupported and the Daily Mail has since issued a retraction. > > According to the lawsuit, because of the Daily Mail’s inaccurate reporting, these business opportunities will be less available to her while her husband is in the White House. It’s so wonderful to finally have a classy, dignified couple in the White House! ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/2 "2017-02-07T06:13:36Z")
Every First Lady has a cause. Maybe this one’s will be merchandising! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/3 "2017-02-07T06:19:51Z")
To be fair, I can’t see any indication that she actually has any such plan. Just that she’s claiming to have had such a plan in order to get more damages from the _Mail_ for ruining that alleged plan by calling her an ex-prostitute and thus damaging her brand. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/4 "2017-02-07T06:26:08Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > To be fair, I can’t see any indication that she actually has any such plan. Just that she’s claiming to have had such a plan in order to get more damages from the _Mail_ for ruining that alleged plan by calling her an ex-prostitute and thus damaging her brand. Oh, that’s so much better! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/5 "2017-02-07T06:28:49Z")
Ex prostitute? She married Trump didn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/6 "2017-02-07T06:56:20Z")
Is anyone else reporting this? Right off the bat it strikes me as Fake News. Nm. Just saw it somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/7 "2017-02-07T06:56:26Z")
I thought merchandising was the whole rationale behind Trumpo’s candidacy. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/8 "2017-02-07T07:02:50Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Is anyone else reporting this? Right off the bat it strikes me as Fake News. > > Nm. Just saw it somewhere else. > **[Melania Trump claims she lost millions after Daily Mail story calling her...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/02/06/melania-trump-claims-she-lost-millions-after-daily-mail-story-calling-her-elite-escort/)** > > Melania Trump’s “fitness to perform her duties as First Lady of the United States” has been undermined because the Daily Mail wrongly smeared her as an “elite escort” … [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/melania-trump-missed-out-on-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-to-make-millions-lawsuit-says/2017/02/06/3654f070-ecd0-11e6-9973-c5efb7ccfb0d\_story.html?utm\_term=.82da1c914a2c](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/melania-trump-missed-out-on-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-to-make-millions-lawsuit-says/2017/02/06/3654f070-ecd0-11e6-9973-c5efb7ccfb0d_story.html?utm_term=.82da1c914a2c) [http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/06/melania-trump-re-files-daily-mail-lawsuit-in-ny.html](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/06/melania-trump-re-files-daily-mail-lawsuit-in-ny.html) ---
**Author:** ![CatandMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@CatandMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatandMouse)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/9 "2017-02-07T07:13:24Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > [https://thinkprogress.org/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals-1999314fb8f1](https://thinkprogress.org/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals-1999314fb8f1) > > It’s so wonderful to finally have a classy, dignified couple in the White House! How is she going to have time to take on the task of online bullying, hopefully starting with her husbands Twitter account? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/10 "2017-02-07T07:39:58Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > To be fair, I can’t see any indication that she actually has any such plan. Just that she’s claiming to have had such a plan in order to get more damages from the _Mail_ for ruining that alleged plan by calling her an ex-prostitute and thus damaging her brand. So, to combat an inaccurate story published in a newspaper she’s going to claim in a court filing that she will lose business deals that she had no real plans to pursue? I guess we know what Donald sees in her. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/11 "2017-02-07T07:51:41Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > To be fair, I can’t see any indication that she actually has any such plan. Just that she’s claiming to have had such a plan in order to get more damages from the _Mail_ for ruining that alleged plan by calling her an ex-prostitute and thus damaging her brand. I agree. I wouldn’t rule out such a plan, it seems any time anyone says “this can’t possibly happen” it does, but it seems much more likely this is the standard lawyer’s approach to a defamation lawsuit. If the Trump family had any integrity they’d now fire him for not thinking of their reputation with decent people, but it seems more likely they’ll ignore this except to bring it up as liberal nonsense attacks. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/12 "2017-02-07T08:06:03Z")
> [@CatandMouse](#): > > How is she going to have time to take on the task of online bullying You’re missing the Slovenian genius (Slovenius?). This entire story _invites_ online bullying! She’s drawing the bullies out so that she can fight them on her own turf. It’s brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/13 "2017-02-07T10:04:31Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > To be fair, I can’t see any indication that she actually has any such plan. Just that she’s claiming to have had such a plan in order to get more damages from the _Mail_ for ruining that alleged plan by calling her an ex-prostitute and thus damaging her brand. Yeah, it smells like lawyer. But she (and her lawyers) should still know that the optics are horrible, and maybe not go that route. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/14 "2017-02-07T10:35:57Z")
Yes, the whole “But I could cash in on being FLOTUS by endorsing a line of purses!” thing is a typical lawyers offense to justify demanding 150 million dollars from both the Mail and, let’s not forget, one individual Maryland blogger. The Trumps wanted to make an example out of him. Another example in a long line of bullying-by-lawyer, and to hell with that whole freedom of speech thing they themselves abuse so richly. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/15 "2017-02-07T10:57:44Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Yes, the whole “But I could cash in on being FLOTUS by endorsing a line of purses!” thing is a typical lawyers offense to justify demanding 150 million dollars from both the Mail and, let’s not forget, one individual Maryland blogger. The Trumps wanted to make an example out of him. Another example in a long line of bullying-by-lawyer, and to hell with that whole freedom of speech thing they themselves abuse so richly. If that Maryland blogger were to lose (which I doubt) then no doubt crowd-funding will come to the rescue to pay any settlement for them. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/16 "2017-02-07T14:16:41Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I thought merchandising was the whole rationale behind Trumpo’s candidacy. And you smug bastards all snarked and dismissed the arguments that marketing shapes our world and our perceptions, no matter how much you think you’re immune or untouchable. Agent Orange is in the Ovaltine office because of nuclear-level use of marketing, both tactics and the powerful levers we’ve allowed the industry to develop. Selah, amigos. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/17 "2017-02-07T15:09:59Z")
At least they said she was an _ex_ prostitute, right? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/18 "2017-02-07T15:14:05Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > At least they said she was an _ex_ prostitute, right? I guess The Cheeto doesn’t like his wife having her own career. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/19 "2017-02-07T15:24:48Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > And you smug bastards all snarked and dismissed the arguments that marketing shapes our world and our perceptions, no matter how much you think you’re immune or untouchable. Pearls before swine! You stupid sheeple aren’t worthy of carrying this man’s fedora. We rolled in the Trojan horse, and now the fox is in the henhouse. Bullshit, is what it is! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trump-reveals-plan-to-leverage-presidency-to-ink-multi-million-dollar-endorsement-deals/779211/20 "2017-02-07T15:27:16Z")
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