'Tis the summer of the Trump tell-all. This July, it was President Trump's niece Mary Trump with her book Too Much and Never Enough. Now reports have bubbled up about Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady, the debut book by Melania Trump's former friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, out September 1st.
Journalist Yashar Ali recently reported that, according to two sources, Wolkoff taped the First Lady 'making disparaging remarks' about President Trump and his adult children. Wolkoff plans to publish the comments in her upcoming book.
'It’s unclear what exactly Wolkoff is alleging that the first lady said about the president and his adult children,' Ali reports,'"but two sources familiar with the contents of Melania and Me confirmed that she reveals the details in her book, including harsh comments about Ivanka Trump, the president’s elder daughter and a senior adviser.'
If you've never heard of Wolkoff—or were surprised to learn Melania had a close friend who'd turn around and write a book about her—the book's Amazon description provides some insight:
'The former director of special events at Vogue and producer of nine legendary Met Galas, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff met Melania Knauss in 2003 and had a front row seat to the transformation of Donald Trump’s then girlfriend from a rough-cut gem to a precious diamond. As their friendship deepened over lunches at Manhattan hot spots, black-tie parties, and giggle sessions in the penthouse at Trump Tower, Wolkoff watched the newest Mrs. Trump raise her son, Barron, and manage her highly scrutinised marriage.
'After Trump won the 2016 election, Wolkoff was recruited to help produce the 58th Presidential Inauguration and to become the First Lady’s trusted advisor. Melania put Wolkoff in charge of hiring her staff, organizing her events, helping her write speeches, and creating her debut initiatives. Then it all fell apart when she was made the scapegoat for inauguration finance irregularities. Melania could have defended her innocent friend and confidant, but she stood by her man, knowing full well who was really to blame. The betrayal nearly destroyed Wolkoff.'
The book also promises to discuss Melania's reaction to the Access Hollywood tape, her relationship with Ivanka, the 'I really don't care, do u?' jacket, and—a somewhat unsolved mystery of our time—whether she's actually happy being First Lady.
Madison is the digital deputy editor at ELLE, where she also covers news, politics, and culture. If she’s not online, she’s probably napping or trying not to fall while rock climbing.
