Melania Trump’s public snubs of her husband are an act to distract the world from “what’s going on”, an-ex friend has claimed.
Allegations of unhappiness in her marriage dogged the former First Lady throughout Donald’s term in the White House.
It was noted that Melania, 50, would often appear distant during photo-ops – perhaps showing her true feelings towards her spouse.
Some even believed the Slovenian-born ex-model would divorce Donald, 74, as soon as he vacated the presidency, with some bookmakers offering odds.
But former friend and advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who penned a book titled ‘Melania and Me’, has now rubbished claims the couple’s relationship is on the rocks
The fashion executive, 51, has argued that being a loving wife is Melania’s true character and her other side is a way of keeping the media’s eyes elsewhere.
Stephanie told the Hollywood Life podcast that the aloofness is a distraction to “shine the light over here so you don’t see what’s going on over there”.
She added: “I believe their way of showing affection towards one another is her telling him how wonderful and great he is.
“She was always his first phone call [after a rally], always, no matter where she was.
“And the first thing he’d say was: ‘Hey Baby, how’d I do?’. Like he wants her approval.
“She tells him how it is, but she also makes sure to elevate him and embrace what he’s doing, because that is who she is.
“And I didn’t realize that, but when you see their eye contact and the seduction through that gaze, it’s more about that than I think anything else.”
Donald and Melania are now residing at their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he vacated the presidency on January 20.
Last week, a top lawyer in New York told the Mirror that Mrs Trump could get up to $50 million (£36.5 million) and custody of the couple’s son Barron, 14, if she divorces the property tycoon.
But some observers have also said the loving looks and hand-holding exchanged between the pair as he marked the end of his presidency show they are in it for the long-haul.
Melania has previously claimed she has “a great relationship” with Donald, and he has insisted that they never argue.