Melania and the Media

Will Melania Trump sit down with the press when she publishes her self-titled memoir early next month?

With only a few weeks until the former first lady releases her book on October 8, the race to lock a rare potential sit-down with Melania is on. The major news networks, I’m told, have put in various pitches for a one-on-one conversation, with “CBS Sunday Morning” having expressed particular interest in nabbing an interview.

But it is far from clear whether any of the pitches from the networks will be granted. During her time in public life, Melania has largely avoided the press. She only granted a small handful of interviews during her time in the White House and has eschewed reporters since the Trump family exited in disgrace after the January 6 insurrection.

A representative for Skyhorse, the publisher of the book, did not respond to a request for comment.

In the lead up to the release of her memoir, which Skyhorse has billed as offering an “unprecedented look” into her life, Melania has released a series of peculiar social media videos. In the short clips, she has swiped at the press and claimed the FBI “invaded” her privacy when it executed a search warrant on Mar-a-Lago.

Promoting her book in the press, however, would open Melania up to a series of uncomfortable and difficult-to-answer questions. She would be asked about topics ranging from the insurrection to the overturning of Roe v. Wade to the current state of the presidential campaign. Another topic likely to pop up: her husband’s relationship with the right-wing extremist Laura Loomer, which has generated a mountain of headlines and spurred all sorts of speculation in recent weeks.

"I don't know how a journalist sits down with her and doesn't ask her about Donald Trump's relationship with Laura Loomer, because where Melania has been absent, Loomer has been present,” Kathleen Schmidt, a public relations professional who previously headed publicity for Skyhorse, told me Monday.

Schmidt, however, said she believes “there has to be some media supporting this book,” adding, “I don’t think you can publish it without major media behind it.”

But sitting with the news networks would present a problem for Melania, who is likely not seeking to stir the pot weeks before ballots are cast in November. That just might rule out talking to the press, as unusual as it would be for a former first lady releasing a memoir.

In lieu of speaking to the major networks, Melania will have very limited options to promote her book — and they will all likely fall within the confines of MAGA Media.

“If she does any press, it will likely be very controlled, very friendly media only,” Stephanie Grisham, who formerly headed communications for Melania during her time as first lady, told me. “I imagine she will release a few more videos teasing some of the photos and will rely on mostly MAGA supporters to purchase the book.”