Melania Trump Takes European Sojourn Amid Trump Family Turmoil
In the wake of mounting public scandals involving her husband, former First Lady Melania Trump is reportedly heading to Europe with their 17-year-old son, Barron, in what sources suggest might be a preliminary step towards a potential divorce. Donald Trump's inability to acknowledge Melania's 53rd birthday publicly amid his flurry of tweets about political adversaries and ongoing legal battles seems to have been the tipping point, insiders reveal.
“Donald's public missteps and his apparent disregard for her, consumed by his political aspirations and the ongoing trials involving allegations of infidelity and sexual misconduct, have pushed her to the edge,” says a close source.
Donald Trump, 76, currently faces serious allegations from writer and columnist E. Jean Carroll, who accuses him of raping her in a New York City department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Despite Trump's categorical denial of the charges, the controversy has reportedly unsettled Melania.
Sources suggest that the former First Lady is weighing her options over the summer, considering whether to take more decisive steps towards a permanent separation. The insider adds, “Melania can’t bear to share a home with Donald anymore, regardless of how expansive Mar-a-Lago is.”
The Trump family's discord seems to have been exacerbated by the former president's 34-count indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The charges involve alleged hush money payments exceeding $130,000 to prevent the disclosure of a purported sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels, just prior to the 2016 election. Melania, pregnant with Barron at the time of the alleged incident, has reportedly been deeply embarrassed by the accusations.
Furthermore, the Trump family appears to be fracturing beyond the marital discord. Recently, Ivanka Trump, 41, reportedly distanced herself from the legal team representing her father and brothers in a $250 million fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Ivanka's legal team has argued she had no involvement in the alleged financial misrepresentations.
As Melania prepares for her European hiatus, the Trump family continues to face legal battles. Donald Trump is expected to face indictment over an election-rigging scandal in Fulton County, Georgia. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is probing his refusal to return classified documents held at Mar-a-Lago and allegations that he tried to overturn the 2020 election results.
However, a source close to the family insists that the Trumps' marriage and family ties remain strong. “Donald respects and admires his wife,” says the source. “He is committed to ensuring Melania's happiness. They have a mutually beneficial arrangement.”