# Where's Melania? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 23, 2022, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420 "2022-07-23T12:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/1 "2022-07-23T12:23:45Z")
I struggled with which forum to put this in, feel free to suggest a move. Throughout the January 6 hearings I have not heard Melania mentioned at all. Where was she on January 6? Did she not also urge Trump to call off the dogs, as has been said about Ivanka and just about anyone else with a relationship to Trump? She has been pretty invisible since the 2020 election, except for this business of trying to auction NFTs. I’m sure she’s very happy to be below the radar but I had the impression that she at least had Trump’s ear, and I would have thought she would exert some kind of influence through the Jan. 6 riot and aftermath. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/2 "2022-07-23T12:44:07Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Where was she on January 6? Did she not also urge Trump to call off the dogs, as has been said about Ivanka and just about anyone else with a relationship to Trump? She has addressed this in a statement > [@](#): > > On January 6, 2021, I was fulfilling one of my duties as First Lady of the United States of America, and accordingly, I was unaware of what was simultaneously transpiring at the U.S. Capitol Building… > As with all First Ladies who preceded me, it was my obligation to record the contents of the White House’s historic rooms, including taking archival photographs of all the renovations. Several months in advance, I organized a qualified team of photographers, archivists, and designers to work with me in the White House to ensure perfect execution… > As required, we scheduled January 6, 2021, to complete the work on behalf of our Nation. > **[Melania Trump says she was 'fulfilling' official duties as first lady on Jan....](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/melania-trump-says-fulfilling-official-duties-first-lady-jan-6-always-condemn-violence)** > > EXCLUSIVE: Former First Lady Melania Trump told Fox News Thursday that she was "fulfilling" her duties as first lady of the United States of America on Jan. 6, 2021. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/3 "2022-07-23T13:02:37Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > On January 6, 2021, I was fulfilling one of my duties as First Lady of the United States of America, and accordingly, I was unaware of what was simultaneously transpiring at the U.S. Capitol Building… - I had no idea she was **Ganesha** incarnate. She can do all three monkeys at once. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/4 "2022-07-23T13:25:34Z")
[Moderating] The questions of where she was, what she was doing, and what statements she has made, are all factual questions. Questions like what she could have done, or should have done, are not. Questions about what she actually knew are in principle factual, but are in practice unanswerable by anyone other than her. While this thread is in FQ, let’s stick to the factual questions. If the OP would like this thread moved to Politics and Elections, or if anyone starts a new thread there, the other questions can be explored there. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/5 "2022-07-23T13:41:35Z")
This may be hard to keep in FQ as the actual facts are not known. “What did Melanie Trump say she was doing?” can be answered factually. And has been. Elements of her statement have been declared as “[bullshit](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/politics/melania-trump-january-6/index.html)” however, and some are verifiably not truth. > [@](#): > > In response to Trump’s statements, Grisham told CNN, “Everything she said is bullshit and she knows it.” Not sure why it particularly matters but claims of fact in FQ do deserve vetting. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/6 "2022-07-23T13:44:18Z")
Like with a lot of things Melania, this seems off. What sort of archival documentation needs to be done at the WH, esp in that time period after the election and before leaving office? Doubly esp. when the official stance was they had not lost the election and weren’t going anywhere? And it ends precisely on 1/6? This sounds completely fishy and made up. It’s really hard to sort her out. One the one hand … and on the other hand … . (Lots of non-topic stuff can go into those spaces.) So I’m just adding this statement to the list. Maybe someday the truth (which may or may not relate to this statement) will come out. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/7 "2022-07-23T14:12:42Z")
Of particular interest to my question was this quote from the linked article: > …Stephanie Grisham, her former chief of staff, [revealed a text message exchange](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/29/grisham-melania-trump-text-messages-newday-keilar-berman-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/united-states/) in which the former first lady responded to a tweet Grisham had drafted calling for the violence on Capitol Hill [to stop as it was happening.](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/10/politics/jan-6-us-capitol-riot-timeline/index.html) The then-first lady responded with the word, “no,” declining to send a statement condemning the insurrection. And further > [Melania] Trump waited until five days after the riot to tweet a condemnation of the violence. So the facts seem to be that Melania was not anywhere near Donald when the events played out, declined to issue a statement during the riot when her press secretary drafted one for her, and generally distanced herself from the whole thing, merely sending a perfunctory tweet days later. This would also appear to answer the question as to why her name never came up in the hearings. So the factual questions have been answered. As provided by mod direction, any further discussion of motivation or ethical responsibility or anything else can be discussed in a new thread in another subforum, if anyone wants to go there. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/8 "2022-07-23T14:28:52Z")
I haven’t seen Melania with Donald on the pre-announcement campaign trail. She may be there, but just not in the limelight. I wonder if she thinks the election was stolen and wants another crack at being the first lady. I think she’s enjoying her relative anonymity. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/9 "2022-07-23T14:35:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Questions about what she actually knew are in principle factual, but are in practice unanswerable by anyone other than her. Although this statement is true at face value, her press secretary claims to have informed her while the riot was occurring and drafted a statement for her which she declined to issue and ostensibly has evidence of this (which I was unable to view on CNN’s web site due to a technical failure). This could be called a her-word-against-hers situation but Occam’s Razor suggests otherwise. Regardless, as I have said, my factual questions have been answered to my satisfaction. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/10 "2022-07-23T14:44:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > …was **Ganesha** incarnate. She can do all three monkeys at once. Not sure why you have to insult Hinduism to make your point. Bigotry is a sickness. As a Hindu, I wish you a speedy recovery 😊 ---
**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:** [July 23, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/11 "2022-07-23T14:46:17Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > …was **Ganesha** incarnate. She can do all three monkeys at once. > > Not sure why you have to insult Hinduism to make your point. > > Bigotry is a sickness. As a Hindu, I wish you a speedy recovery 😊 - [![](https://previews.123rf.com/images/sila5775/sila57751603/sila5775160300113/52985958-three-monkeys-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil-graphic-vector-.jpg) ](https://previews.123rf.com/images/sila5775/sila57751603/sila5775160300113/52985958-three-monkeys-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil-graphic-vector-.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/12 "2022-07-23T15:53:09Z")
So the apparent factual claim is that she simply was not directly in the thick of whatever was happening so she did not have anything to say. Less verifiably it would seem that the idea is that she _chose_ to be somewhere else letting the boys do whatever nonsense they would be doing, just don’t involve her: _ **“I really don’t care, do you?”** _ > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Regardless, as I have said, my factual questions have been answered to my satisfaction. And I will await for whatever opinion thread happens, to say more. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/13 "2022-07-23T15:57:16Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > her press secretary claims to have informed her while the riot was occurring and drafted a statement for her which she declined to issue and ostensibly has evidence of this (which I was unable to view on CNN’s web site due to a technical failure). Here is the purported message. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWXEgXRWIAgo7dz?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWXEgXRWIAgo7dz?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/14 "2022-07-23T15:59:38Z")
And while there does not appear to be independent corroboration of this purported conversation, it is factually true that this press secretary did resign that day, January 6. > [@](#): > > Jan 6, 2021, 8:03 PM… > Melania Trump’s chief of staff Stephanie Grisham has resigned. She leaves her position “effective immediately,” [according to CNN’s Kate Bennett](https://twitter.com/KateBennett_DC/status/1346976842159427586). > > Grisham is the first high-profile member of the Trump administration to leave since the riots by pro-Trump insurrectionists in Washington, DC, began on Wednesday. > **[Melania Trump's chief of staff Stephanie Grisham has resigned 'effective...](https://www.businessinsider.com/stephanie-grisham-resigns-melania-trump-chief-of-staff-trump-communications-2021-1)** > > Grisham is the first high-profile member of the Trump administration to exit since his supporters began rioting in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/15 "2022-07-23T16:11:19Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > …was **Ganesha** incarnate. She can do all three monkeys at once. ⁢ > > Not sure why you have to insult Hinduism to make your point. > > Bigotry is a sickness. As a Hindu, I wish you a speedy recovery 😊 ⁢ I don’t understand your claim that the statement was denigrating Hinduism or was bigoted. If someone was acting like they could walk on water, would it be bigoted or denigrating to Christianity to ask if they thought they were Jesus? Sure, you could argue that maybe it’s an incorrect reference. But wouldn’t it be better to fight said ignorance, rather than assume maliciousness? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/16 "2022-07-23T16:42:36Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/17 "2022-07-23T16:44:35Z")
3 flags for 3 different posts already. I’m leaving this closed until an FQ mod can clean it up. I see at least 2 posts that clearly don’t belong in the thread, especially an FQ thread. Someone will be along later to deal with the flags and reopen or move the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/18 "2022-07-23T23:12:55Z")
[Moderating] First of all, the posts about purported bigotry against Hinduism are both off-topic and off-category. If you wish to discuss that, continue it in the BBQ Pit. Second, given that we seem to have mostly covered the factual content of this thread, and given that the OP has shown an interest in continuing discussion in P&E, let’s move the thread over there. I’m re-opening the thread. Let’s all play nice, now. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/19 "2022-07-23T23:13:07Z")
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**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420/20 "2022-07-23T23:23:18Z")
It would be an odd coincidence for Melania’s press Secretary to have resigned on the day of the insurrection unless she was completely rebuffed by Melania about…something. Maybe there was just a really strong disagreement about what angle to photograph the White House china. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-melania/968420.md?page=2)