Former First Lady Melania Trump’s reported move to establish a new office separate from her husband’s “could well be preparatory steps for explaining to Donald that she’d like to separate”, a family expert has claimed.
Melania’s office is for now functioning out of former President Donald Trump’s private club, Mar-a-Lago, CNN reports, but the former First Lady is looking for separate space in the Palm Beach area.
It is reported that Melania will maintain three of her White House staff as she looks to build on the “Be Best” campaign she ran while in office, but that she wants to do the work in a separate working space outside of her husband’s famous resort.
“Be Best” existed as a broad, three-pillared initiative, consisting of children’s health and well-being, safety online and prevention of social media bullying and the impact of the opioid crisis on children.
And now, family mediator Louisa Whitney, of LKW Family Mediation, says that, while it’s not unusual for someone to have been unhappy in a relationship for some time but to have stayed for a variety of reasons, there can be “preparations for the separation”.
She says this includes purchasing new property, being sure a person will have an income in the event of a separation or setting up counselling for emotional support.
Louisa told the Daily Star: “Melania’s wish for a separate office could well be preparatory steps for explaining to Donald that she’d like to separate – she might be seeking to set up a role for herself that builds on the work she did as First Lady.
“She might also want to be setting up an identity for herself in her own right. It can be hard I think for anyone separating to establish themselves as just that person rather than part of a couple – especially if their partner was more high profile, more outgoing or better known than them.”
Tina Wilson, a leading relationship expert and Founder of Wingman app, agrees that Melania seems to want to “forge her own path” with the office move – but says that may just be with her business activities.
Tina says: “As the former first lady, Melania has been under the microscope for the last four years, being analysed, criticised, loved and hated as she has stood by Donald, who has revelled in the attention.
“She now has the opportunity to create her own space, choose her own work and shape her own public persona. By having a separate office to her spouse she is stating loud and clear, ‘I’ve done my duty and need some me-time, so back off’.
“Melania appears to want to forge her own path and it is a deliberate act of separating their business activities. It would be easier to keep her office in the same building as Donald’s, so the move to seek an “outside work space” signals her strive for independence and freedom. Time will tell whether this is just for her career or If there is more behind the scenes going on.
“The constraints of public office are now gone and the shackles from Donald have been sawn off, perhaps we will even see a smile from Melania.”
It comes after Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, said she believes he does love Melania but the pair do not understand each other.
A source close to the family also recently said that Melania will stick by the ex-US President – but without the ‘lovey-dovey’ stuff.