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First Lady Melania Trump broke her silence after last week’s violent uprising at the U.S. Capitol by releasing a statement in which she memorializes the very people who carried out the attack and claims personal victimhood in the aftermath. Nowhere in the lengthy message does she mention her husband’s role in instigating the event.
Naturally, it isn’t going over so well.
Trump, the the typo-laden communication (does she have any staff left to proofread?), mentions the fallen Capitol police officers and the insurrectionists who lost their lives in the same sentence, saying her “heart goes out to” them all.
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“Most recently,” she writes, “my heart goes out to: Air Force Veteran, Ashli Babbitt, Benjamin Philips, Kevin Greeson, Roseanne Boyland, and Capitol Police Officers, Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood. I pray for their families comfort and strength during this difficult time.”
Then she somehow turns the statement over to her own, personal suffering. “I find it shameful that surrounding these tragic events there has been salacious gossip, unwarranted personal attacks, and false misleading accusations on me – from people who are looking to be relevant and have an agenda. This time is solely about healing our country and its citizens. It should not be used for personal gain.”
Here’s some of the initial reaction:
Whoever wrote that Melania statement must LOATHE her.
— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 11, 2021
Melania’s statement on the Capitol attack was difficult, since Michelle Obama never had to write a statement on that topic.
— Tgage (@tgagemurphy) January 11, 2021
Really, we should all take a moment out of our busy days to think about how the insurrection has affected Melania. These must be difficult times for her. https://t.co/bQJkJPjZQR
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 11, 2021
New: It appears @FLOTUS has copied parts of her statement today from … herself. Significant similarities between statement today and her RNC speech from August: pic.twitter.com/S2V8YHIcuZ
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) January 11, 2021
Has Melania given a statement about how this impacts her work on the much-needed tennis pavilion
— Julie Cantor (@juliedcantor) January 11, 2021
I hope CNN doesn’t lose their current level of petty. “I guess we can take it as seriously as her cyber bullying campaign at the beginning of the term” CNN on how to take Melania’s statement
— a (@a_spindle) January 11, 2021
Not a PR specialist but that Melania statement is shockingly awful.
— devin (@devincf) January 11, 2021
Queerty