An old claim that Melania Trump delayed moving into the White House partly as "punishment" over the women surrounding President Donald Trump has resurfaced as Margo Martin, a senior communications aide with unusually close access to the president, becomes an increasingly visible presence in his second administration.
The account dates to Trump's first presidency and centers on Hope Hicks, who rapidly rose from a relatively inexperienced campaign spokeswoman to one of Trump's most trusted advisers. Reports claimed Melania was unhappy with the attention surrounding Hicks and waited roughly six months before permanently joining her husband in Washington.
The delay itself is well documented, but the explanation that it represented "punishment for the political girls that surrounded him" hasn't been publicly confirmed by Melania. The renewed discussion comes as Martin's proximity to Trump-and her physical resemblance to the first lady-has generated another round of attention around the women in the president's inner circle.
Hicks joined Trump's political operation during his first presidential campaign and was 26 when she became his campaign press secretary in 2016. Despite entering national politics without previous government or campaign experience, she became part of a small circle of aides with regular access to Trump and later served in senior White House roles.
Media coverage frequently focused on Hicks's appearance, including comparisons with Melania. Reports said Hicks became frustrated by stories and photographs that confused her with Trump's wife.
One account went considerably further, claiming Trump was told by a friend that Melania wanted him to "go over a Chappaquiddick bridge with Hope." The remark referenced the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident in which Mary Jo Kopechne died after a car driven by Sen. Ted Kennedy went off a bridge.
The reported statement doesn't establish Melania's views because it was attributed indirectly through Trump rather than to the first lady herself. Similarly, Melania's decision to remain in New York during the early months of Trump's first presidency doesn't by itself demonstrate that Hicks was the reason.
Nearly a decade later, Martin has emerged as another prominent member of Trump's communications operation. She served during Trump's first administration and subsequently remained involved in his political organization before returning to the White House.
Martin helps document Trump through photographs and video and supplies behind-the-scenes material for his social-media operation. Reports have described her access as unusually close, allowing her to remain near the president during moments when access is tightly controlled.
Trump has publicly praised Martin's appearance, calling her "the most beautiful photographer in the world." Her resemblance to Melania has also become a recurring subject of coverage.
That similarity produced a notable on-air mistake in 2023, when Fox News anchor John Roberts identified Martin as Melania while covering one of Trump's court appearances before correcting himself. Such incidents have helped drive comparisons between Martin and Hicks, although there is no public evidence that Melania has objected to Martin's role or presence around her husband.
Melania's own public description of her marriage has been markedly different from the tensions suggested by the older accounts. During a 2024 Fox & Friends appearance, host Ainsley Earhardt asked what she loved most about Trump.
"His being," Melania replied. She cited his humor, personality, kindness, positivity and energy before adding: "Yeah, so we have a beautiful relationship."
Asked to characterize Trump in a single word, Melania chose "caring." She also offered a low-key description of their private life: "Have dinner. Sometimes quiet dinner, or dinner with friends, and listen to the music."
