Donald Trump Was ‘Nervous’ About Melania’s Book

Former President Donald Trump said he was initially “nervous” about his wife Melania’s memoir.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Nelk Boys’ YouTube channel, Trump responded to a lighthearted question during the 40-minute interview with hosts Kyle Forgeard and Salim Sirur. At one point, they mentioned the sales performance of Melania’s book and her potential influence on Trump’s 2024 campaign.
“She wrote something very good. I was a little bit nervous before I read it,” Trump admitted. “You never know, maybe she said bad things, but she didn’t.”
Although Melania has often kept a low profile throughout Trump’s political career, her presence has made an impact. Trump acknowledged her influence during the interview but pushed back against calling her a “secret weapon.”
“I wouldn’t call it a weapon. ‘Secret weapon’ is a tough term. But she’s great. She’s a wonderful person. She was a great first lady. People love her,” Trump added, before moving on to another topic.
In the weeks leading up to the November 5 election, Melania Trump released the memoir, Melania, which covers a range of personal topics, including her views on reproductive rights, her early career, motherhood and her relationship with the media. The book has enjoyed strong sales since its release.
One section of the memoir that has drawn attention is Melania’s stance on reproductive rights. She writes that the decision to end a pregnancy should be made between a woman and her doctor, “free from government intervention,” a clear contrast with the anti-abortion position held by members of her husband’s party. When asked about the issue, Trump generally says abortion law should be decided by the states and notes that the Supreme Court, to which he appointed three justices, overturned Roe v. Wade.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” Melania wrote, according to published excerpts of the book.
The former first lady also opened up about how she learned of the two assassination attempts against her husband—the first at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 and another at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15.
Melania described how she had paused live coverage of the Butler rally moments before the shots were fired and then “ran to the TV” upon hearing about the incident.
“When I saw it, no one really knew the details yet. You see him on the ground, and you don’t know what really happened,” she recalled.
Compared to her more visible role during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, Melania has kept a relatively low profile this election cycle. She made a brief appearance at the Republican National Convention on July 18 in Milwaukee but did not deliver a speech.
However, she did issue a letter calling for compassion for her husband following the July 13 assassination attempt.