Fact Check: Did Melania Trump reveal that Obama's White House had a mosque and prayer rugs?

WASHINGTON, DC: An allegation has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that First Lady Melania Trump mentioned in her 2024 memoir that former President Barack Obama's White House had a closet full of Muslim prayer rugs and a makeshift mosque. The claim has sparked mockery and speculation, prompting a fact-check.

The viral claim also alleged that Melania Trump disclosed details about the White House after the Trump family moved in following Barack Obama's presidency.

Claim: Barack Obama had prayer rugs and a makeshift mosque at the White House

The rumor surfaced as a post on X claiming that the memoir of President Donald Trump’s wife exposed an alleged closet full of Muslim prayer rugs, a makeshift mosque, and halal sacrifices in the kitchen at the White House.

According to the post, the first lady revealed that the section of her memoir covering the 2016 move into the White House had to be cleared by the NSA because of certain details about Barack Obama that were allegedly withheld from the public.

A spokesperson from the Trump Organization allegedly said, “Now that they’re not worried about a public uprising, First Lady Trump can tell the world about the things they found when they moved in… Like the closet full of Muslim prayer rugs or the makeshift mosque in the residence.”

“This place was like the third world when they moved in,” Melania allegedly said.

Fact Check: Melania Trump mentioned no such thing in her memoir

The claim, however, is false, as there is no mention of such details about Barack Obama in Melania Trump's memoir. A search on Google for the claim revealed that similar claims circulated before and were debunked by fact-checking organizations.

If such sensational claims were mentioned in the memoir, published in 2024, they would likely have received significant attention from prominent news media outlets. However, there is no credible evidence that Melania Trump made the alleged remarks.

Moreover, the account that posted the claim is not credible, and its posts include fake or exaggerated content made for engagement.

Melania Trump's memoir details her journey to the White House

Melania's memoir, titled ‘Melania’ created a buzz and topped the sales charts even before its release in 2024.

According to the Daily Mail, the first lady described the memoir as an “amazing journey” filled with "emotional highs and lows," and emphasized, “Each story shaped me into who I am today."

The memoir offered a glimpse into her life, including her "Slovenian childhood, the pivotal moments that led her to the world of high fashion in Europe and New York, and the serendipitous meeting with Donald Trump, a chance encounter that forever changed the course of her life."