“I have a wonderful family, and they have done an excellent job, and we greatly appreciate it. They’ve been through a lot,” Trump told his gathering of supporters gathered at his Palm Beach, Florida home and exclusive club, according to the New York Post and Daily Mail.
The 76-year-old Trump then singled out several of those family members, including two of his children who were also not present — his adored oldest daughter Ivanka Trump and his 17-year-old son Barron. Trump is the first president in American history to be charged with a crime.
According to a speech transcript, Trump mentioned his two adult sons, “I have a son here (Don Jr.) who has done a fantastic job and another son here (Eric) who has done a great job.” The former president continued, “Tiffany and Ivanka and Barron will be wonderful someday,” referring to his two daughters and his teenage son with his third wife Melania.
He is intelligent and tall.
Tiffany and her new husband, Michael Boulos, were in the Mar-a-Lago crowd while Ivanka and Barron were absent. The New York Post reported that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump’s significant others were also present in the ballroom to support him as he attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over his arraignment.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, and Lara Trump, Eric Trump’s wife, are both ardent supporters of Trump’s MAGA-style of GOP politics and were involved in his 2020 campaign. But, as can be seen from the speech’s transcript, Melania Trump did not get any special recognition. She was also “glaringly” absent from the celebration, according to the Daily Mail.
The former press secretary for first lady Jill Biden, Michael LaRosa, tweeted that Melania Trump’s absence “says everything.” “I held my breath as I waited to see if the previous first lady would be by his side, holding his hand, and expressing unwavering love and support before Trump appeared in the doorway. Such influence could have been had by that image.
Melania Trump’s absence says everything.
Prior to Trump appearing in the doorway, I held my breath, awaiting to see if the former First Lady would be by his side, clasping his hand, and showing unconditional love and support. There would have been so much power in that picture.
— Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosaDC) April 5, 2023
Melania Trump may not have attended the dinner, according to rumors, because of the circumstances surrounding her husband’s arrest by a Manhattan grand jury. The 34 criminal accusations against Trump originate from claims that during the early years of their marriage and shortly after she gave birth to Barron, he had affairs with former Playboy model Karen McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels.
Regarding a $130,000 hush-money payment to Daniels for an alleged sexual encounter she allegedly had with Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006 and a $150,000 payment to McDougal, who maintains that she and Trump had an affair for ten months, there have been accusations of falsifying business records.
The New York Post said that the statement of facts from Alvin Bragg’s office includes information on a $30,000 payment made to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have knowledge that Trump had fathered an unmarried kid. All three of these individuals claim they were paid to withhold information about Trump’s alleged affairs while he was running for president in 2015 and 2016.
Trump was irate throughout his 25-minute address, calling Bragg a “criminal,” accusing Merchan of “Trump-hatred,” and criticizing the judge’s daughter for allegedly working for the Biden-Harris campaign.
Yet, for some people, the focus of Trump’s address was less on his assertions of innocence or his tirade against a federal probe against him and more on the fact that his wife wasn’t there to support him symbolically. Moreover, Melania Trump did not travel with Donald Trump to New York for his arraignment, despite the fact that she joined him at Mar-a-Lago for a very public dinner last week after learning that he had been indicted.
The Post contacted the Trump campaign’s Jason Miller for comment regarding the former first lady’s movements during the past few days, but Miller did not respond right away.
MyPillow CEO and Trump supporter Mike Lindell responded to the Washington Post when asked where the former first lady was on Tuesday night: “I don’t know, I’m going to go find out.”
Lindell then started to leave the ballroom, according to the Post. Last week, a political insider revealed to People that Melania and Donald Trump were “shocked” to learn of the indictment since they thought it would take weeks or never happen.
Beautiful evening here at the gorgeous Mar a Lago!
Our REAL First Couple enveloped in the love of their friends and most loyal!
(Sorry to disappoint, corporate media 😜. Actually not. Screw you! This is a happiness you will never know, sadly). pic.twitter.com/IFsFU41lAd
— Dr. Gina (@RealDrGina) March 31, 2023
Trump’s third wife is outraged and disturbed by the indictment because of the Stormy Daniels link to the case, according to People, but she is not completely crushed. According to a political source who spoke to People, “Melania and Trump were both astonished when they were told.” They didn’t anticipate it, but Melania would back him.
She works in this manner. They live as a unit.
According to rumors, Melania Trump is primarily concerned with shielding Barron from the consequences of the charges brought against his father. Barron also stays away from public gatherings, although the 6-foot-7-inch-tall youngster did go to his father’s address at Mar-a-Lago in November when he declared his intention to run for office again.
Given their significant positions in Trump’s political career, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner’s absence on Tuesday night was especially notable. They participated prominently in his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and served as senior advisers in his White House.
Ivanka Trump declared in November that although she “loves” her father, she would not be supporting him in his 2024 presidential bid. The Miami-based pair, according to The Post, drove to Wyoming on Tuesday to observe Passover, a trip they’ve taken in the past.
According to reports, Ivanka Trump visited her father on Sunday, and she and Kushner are “supporting (Trump) as family members in private,” according to a source acquainted with their locations who spoke to the Washington Post.