As former President Donald Trump arrived at the courtroom on Monday for the beginning of jury selection in his felony hush-money trial, he made a statement but did not answer questions—especially the one regarding his current wife.
“Where’s Melania?” someone inquired.
Trump’s third wife was absent from Manhattan Criminal Court, and based on past behavior, she is unlikely to attend any of the proceedings.
Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump’s former East Wing aide, told CNN last week that the case—centered on a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her about her alleged affair with Donald Trump before the 2016 presidential election—is “very, very embarrassing” for the former first lady.
Grisham added that Melania is undoubtedly unhappy about the situation and that her husband is quite concerned.
Grisham also recounted Melania’s reaction to Daniels, referring to her as “the porn hooker.”
Melania, formerly known as Melania Knavs, has only commented once on the alleged affair, telling ABC News.
“It is not a concern and focus of mine. I’m a mother and first lady, and I have much more important things to think about and to do. I know people like to speculate, and [the] media like[s] to speculate about our marriage.”
