When Donald Trump got engaged to Melania in the early 2000s, he gave her a 15-carat diamond ring that reportedly cost $1.5 million. At that time, the president was then a savvy businessman who said that no fool would pay a million dollars for a diamond ring.
The New York Times reported that Trump claimed he actually got a million-dollar discount for the piece. However, the chairman of Graff Diamonds, where Trump bought the engagement ring, said that they don't extend anyone any favors as far as the ring's price is concerned.
Graff Diamonds also said that Trump paid in full and paid on the spot for Melania's engagement ring. Regardless of what was said and speculated in the press, the jeweler hand a good experience doing business with the real estate man that would become the President of the United States.
For their 10th anniversary, Trump apparently upgraded and gave Melania a second engagement ring. In total, she owned a more expensive piece than Trump's first two wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples, combined engagement rings. According to reports, Melania's current engagement ring could be valued at about $3 million today.
However, as much generous as Trump was, he claimed that he gave his wife of 14 years a beautiful card for Christmas. The president said that since he didn't have any time to buy gifts for Melania, it was all he could come up for the holidays last 2019.
In 2018, Trump also said that Melania got a birthday card from him. However, the president extended some effort as he had the staff at the White House sign the card as well.
Meanwhile, Melania was recently awarded the Woman of Distinction honors from a university in Florida. The Palm Beach Atlantic University recognized the First Lady's work for the children for her "Be Best" initiative, which was launched in 2018 to counter bullying.
The said award will be bestowed on Feb. 19 at a luncheon at The Breakers resort. According to Newsweek, the affair has since sold out its tickets since it was made known that the Melania will be the award's recipient.
However, the First Lady's "Be Best" program was not without criticisms. Melania was called out on Twitter for keeping silent when her husband attacked 15-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg on the social media platform. Despite this, Palm Beach Atlantic University said Melania is "an exquisite human being, a magnificent wife and life partner, a superb mother and an outstanding First Lady."
