Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide and friend of Melania Trump, has recently expressed concern over the former first lady's well-being in a viral social media post. Amidst former President Donald Trump's campaign efforts for re-election, Melania Trump's public appearances have become increasingly rare.
However, she was seen alongside her husband at a fundraising event hosted by billionaire John Paulson in Palm Beach, Florida. Footage from this event sparked discussions online about Melania's apparent discomfort, with some commentators describing her as appearing "miserable" and likening her to a "hostage."
Wolkoff, addressing the viral video on X, formerly known as Twitter, suggested that Melania Trump is isolated, with no one left to "rescue" her, while emphasizing the perceived similarity between Melania and her husband.
"Looks like Melania Trump is about to dive headfirst into a pool of sharks & nobody's going to protect her. I was the only lifeguard on duty when she was First Lady," Wolkoff remarked, highlighting the perceived peril of Melania's situation.
This isn't the first time Winston Wolkoff has commented on the former first lady's autonomy and decision-making. In earlier posts, she alluded to Melania Trump's ability to craft a public persona of "mystique," paralleling her actions to those of her husband in terms of media manipulation.
"She, just like Donald, knows how to keep the media intrigued. A Trump is a Trump is a Trump," she added, reinforcing the notion of a shared approach to public perception between Melania and Donald Trump.
Adding to the discussion, Judi James, a renowned communication and body language expert, analyzed the couple's dynamics during their recent public outing. James observed a stark contrast in their body language, noting Melania's impeccable presentation versus Donald's more disheveled appearance.
"If Melania were a plant, she'd be Topiary: well-groomed, well-manicured, and with not one move, expression, or hair out of place. Her husband, though, would be more like Knotweed: dominant, disheveled, and hard to budge once it's taken root," James explained to The Mirror.
James also pointed out a moment when Donald Trump attempted to hold Melania's hand, a gesture met with what appeared to be reluctance from Melania. This hesitance, according to James, could indicate a lack of expectation or a desire to avoid the gesture altogether.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party commenced their high-stakes general election fundraising campaign on a grand scale this past Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida.
This significant event marked only the second public appearance of former First Lady Melania Trump alongside her husband during this election cycle, with the previous occurrence being at a Palm Beach polling location on Florida's primary election day, as per ABC News.
Hosted by billionaire John Paulson, the fundraiser reportedly amassed over $50 million for Trump's campaign and the GOP, surpassing President Joe Biden's recent $26 million fundraising event with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton in New York. Trump's discourse to donors covered a wide array of topics, including tax cuts, border security, "energy independence," the revocation of Biden's electric vehicle mandate, and the defense of Israel.
The function saw Trump delivering a 45-minute speech to an assembly of over 100 guests, followed by a communal dinner. Post-dinner, Trump took the opportunity to present several of his allies and former 2024 presidential hopefuls to the audience. Notables such as Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Tim Scott, Governor Doug Burgum, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and co-chair Lara Trump were invited to address the crowd, according to a donor in attendance.
Family members including Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Tiffany Trump also graced the event. One attendee highlighted the former president's remarks as particularly poignant, noting Trump's emphasis on achieving success for all Americans without seeking retribution.
A prominent discussion point among donors was Biden's call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, which garnered considerable attention. Trump was described as "grateful" in his concluding remarks, reflecting on the support garnered throughout the evening.
This fundraising milestone arrives at a crucial juncture for Trump and the GOP, as they aimed to bridge a significant financial gap with the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party.
Heading into April, Trump and the RNC reported $100 million less in their coffers compared to the Democrats' $190 million. However, the Trump campaign views this recent fundraiser as a pivotal step in consolidating Republican donor support and rapidly narrowing the financial disparity with the Democrats.
Campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez highlighted the event's success, contrasting it with the Democrats' fundraising efforts and underscoring Trump's formidable fundraising capability.
Prior to the event, Trump briefly addressed the media, anticipating an "incredible evening" ahead and emphasizing the significance of the upcoming election in November.
The fundraiser, requiring donations exceeding $800,000 per donor, benefited the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, state GOP committees, and Trump's Save America leadership PAC. This PAC has been instrumental in managing a portion of Trump's legal expenses, as disclosed in campaign finance reports.
In a notable gathering that underscores the substantial financial backing behind former President Donald Trump's bid for re-election, several high-profile figures, including former ambassadors and officials from the Trump administration, rallied support at a fundraiser held on Saturday.
The event, characterized by its exclusive guest list and significant pledges, was documented in an invitation obtained by ABC News. Among the co-chairs of this distinguished assembly were Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Wilbur Ross, former Commerce Secretary, and Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets.
The roster of co-chairs further boasted names like Todd Ricketts, former finance chair of Trump Victory, Harold Hamm, a titan in the energy sector, Robert Bigelow, an aerospace executive, Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah Mercer, prominent figures in hedge fund management, and Phil Ruffin, a mogul in the casino industry.
In a statement to ABC News on Saturday evening, it was announced that the fundraiser had raised a record-breaking $50.5 million for Trump's re-election campaign.
"Tonight, we raised an historic $50.5 million for the re-election of President Trump," the statement read, highlighting the unparalleled success of the event in political fundraising history. "This sold-out event has raised the most in a single political fundraiser in history. This overwhelming support demonstrates the enthusiasm for President Trump and his policies."
On the same day, President Joe Biden, Trump's political adversary, voiced criticism of the fundraising event in a series of videos shared across social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
Biden expressed gratitude towards his grassroots supporters and contrasted his campaign's approach with that of Trump's, framing it as a battle between the modest roots of his own backers against the affluent circle surrounding Trump.
"Folks, you know, Trump is down in Florida today raising money from a bunch of hedge fund billionaires," Biden remarked. "This campaign is Scranton vs. Palm Beach, this is a grassroots campaign of nurses and teachers and firefighters and cops versus Donald Trump and a couple of billionaires looking for a tax cut."
