Melania Trump tried to keep Donald Trump from using the White House for his election night party and the Republican National Convention, a new book reveals.
As first lady, Melania Trump had purview over social events at the White House and, 'if it was up to her, there would be no White House parties during the pandemic,' Michael Bender reveals in his new book Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost.
In an excerpt exclusively by DailyMail.com, it's revealed for the first time how Melania Trump worked to stop the White House for being used for political purposes, a move President Trump was heavily criticized for by Democrats.
For the August Republican National Convention, where Trump accepted a second term as the GOP nominee, Melania 'slow-walked' several requests from the campaign to try and stop the event.
Originally scheduled for Charlotte, N.C., President Trump grew furious when the state's Democratic governor refused to grant them exception to the state's coronavirus restrictions and threatened to hold the event elsewhere. Trump then moved part of the event to Jacksonville, Fla., but ultimately had to cancel that when COVID cases in the state spiked.
The White House, instead, was used as the backdrop for his political coronation.
Melania Trump gave her convention speech in her newly-renovated White House Rose Garden while President Trump spoke from the South Lawn.
'The constant use of the White House for blatantly political purposes also made her uncomfortable,' Bender writes of the former first lady.
President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump on the South Lawn of the White House after Trump accepted nomination for a second term; Melania tried to stop the event from being held at White House, new book reveals
President Donald Trump and Melania Trump on election night at the White House, Melania Trump tried to stop the party from happening, Michael Bender reveals in his new book Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost
Melania Trump told then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (above) 'no' three times about the election night party but President Trump called her from Air Force One to convince her; Meadows tested positive for COVID after the event
Melania Trump gets a kiss from President Donald Trump after giving her convention speech in the Rose Garden of the White House
Several events at the White House led to COVID outbreaks among guests and staff. Both Trump and Melania contracted the virus in October of 2020 as did their son Barron.
So when it came to holding a party on election night, Melania Trump told then White House Chief of Staff
