Melania Trump as First Lady

Raised in a humble background, Melania Trump spent her formative years overlooking a river and factory chimneys in a concrete apartment under communist rule in what is now Nova Mesto, Slovenia. A childhood friend of Melania, Mirjana Jelancic, told the Associated Press that even as a child, Melania dreamt of leaving behind her hometown. She migrated to New York City in 1996, meeting millionaire Trump a few years later– a man she would one day marry and be First Lady to.

Melania Trump lives and prospers in what many would call the American Dream, from a humble and poor background to the riches and power she has risen to. Not only will Melania’s husband be in the most powerful position in the world, but she will be the first First Lady to be born in a communist country and the second to be born abroad, after Louisa Adams.

“She doesn’t inspire me, but I think it’s interesting how far she’s come,” sophomore Sophia De Alejo said.

As a naturalized citizen, Melania Trump fully supports her husband’s crackdown on illegal immigration. She also plans to combat cyberbullying as First Lady and recently spoke of how social media interactions between children have become increasingly harsh. During a speech given in Pennsylvania, Melania Trump promised to support the kindness and innocence in children online when she officially becomes First Lady.   

“That’s actually a good cause,” freshman Alex West said. “Hopefully she can make it happen. Bullying in general is a big problem.”

Until the end of the school year, Melania Trump has decided to focus on her own child, Barron Trump, age 10, whom she dedicated her time to during the campaign as well. Donald Trump will move into the White House come Jan. 20 without his wife and son.

Polls taken by the Washington Post and ABC News have Melania Trump labeled as the least popular spouse of a presidential candidate since Hillary Clinton.

“She just shows herself off for her body and I haven’t seen her do many positive things for the community even with all of the money and influence she has,” sophomore Ivana De Armas said.

Influential figures such as Lady Gaga, Gigi Hadid and more have painted Melania as unfit for the job, based on past scandals of her own; nude photos leaked from her modeling career and her copied speech from Michelle Obama, combined with her husband’s various questionable acts have tainted her public image.

“I don’t feel like she knows what she’s doing,” sophomore Brooke Brown stated. “She’s just there because of Donald.”

Yet an interview with Jackie Kennedy biographer Pamela Keogh warned that Melania Trump should not be underestimated. Keogh described her as beautiful, intelligent and discreet.

The Washington Post reported her as the most linguistically gifted First Lady in history, because she speaks five languages: Slovenian, English, French, German and Serbian. While she has been subject to many insults throughout the campaign, Melania Trump has never fired back. Fans of Melania’s told The New York Times she is incapable of being mean. Her fans believe she is more than arm candy– a smart and independent woman. She told CNN she is an individual, “standing on her own two feet.”