The former first lady calls for unity in a rare public statement.
Former first lady Melania Trump shared an uncharacteristically lengthy statement Sunday morning to express her relief that her husband survived an attempt on his life — and to call for Americans to “ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”
“When I watched that bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realize my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” she wrote in on her X account. “I am grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.”
Melania’s statement comes after she’s been largely absent from the public stage throughout her husband’s campaign for re-election — for example, she skipped June’s presidential debate, leaving former President Trump standing on stage alone after the proceedings while First Lady Jill Biden showed up to greet her husband on camera. Considering that, Melania’s words following the assassination attempt in Butler, Penn., were surprisingly in-depth — and unusually personal.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” she said. “The core facets of my husband’s life — his human side — were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.”
She also offered gratitude to everyone who’s reached out to her family, including a reference to “those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide.” In the hours following the chaos at Trump’s rally on Saturday, numerous Democrats have publicly shared their support for the Trumps and denounced political violence of any sort, including President Joe Biden, with whom Trump has been locked in an embittered battle for the White House, and other high-profile Democratic Party leaders like former President Barack Obama.
The comments from Nancy Pelosi in particular have gained traction online, given her reference to being “one whose family has been the victim of political violence.” You’ll recall that her husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked by a conspiracy theorist wielding a hammer who entered the Pelosi home in San Francisco in 2022. Some commenters have pointed out that the Pelosis did not receive the same grace from the Trump family — including from the former president’s son, Don Jr., who harshly mocked Paul Pelosi online following the attack.
Melania’s statement indicated an intention to move past that kind of divisive rhetoric. She wrote that “the winds of change have arrived” and urged Americans to “reunite” in the face of the shocking violence against her husband.
“We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends,” she said. “We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships again.”
This statement may not be the last Americans hear from the recently reclusive Melania in the near future. Before the assassination attempt this weekend, the Associated Press reported that Melania planned to make a rare appearance by attending the Republican National Convention, which is set to kick off Monday in Milwaukee. Republican officials have indicated the convention will go on as planned — with heightened security on hand — and it’s safe to assume the attempt on the former president’s life will significantly influence the tone and tenor of what viewers will hear there.
