Melania Trump explains why she swatted Donald Trump’s hand during 2017 Israel trip in new memoir
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Melania Trump has clarified the true reason behind the gesture of swatting away her husband Donald Trump's hand during their visit to Israel. The incident, which occurred at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport in May 2017, generated widespread media attention.
At the time, the video clearly showed Melania batting Trump's hand away while walking half a step behind him.
However, Melania has now dismissed speculation that the gesture reflected the state of her marriage, attributing it instead to logistical considerations.
In a video that's caused a stir, the first lady appears to swat Trump's hand away with a visible flick of her wrist https://t.co/MXAieDb9v8 pic.twitter.com/UyiSX7k0Ah
— CNN (@CNN) May 22, 2017
Did Melania Trump intentionally swat Donald Trump's hand away?
"The red carpet simply could not accommodate four of us abreast," Melania Trump writes in her upcoming memoir 'Melania', an excerpt of which was acquired by The New York Times.
"It was a minor innocent gesture, nothing more."
Then-first lady Melania Trump was seen swatting away her husband's hand as Trump reached for it upon their arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, where they were to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife.
The former first lady's memoir is set to be released on October 8.
The book delves into several controversies that arose during her husband's presidency, including a fashion misstep by the former first lady. She wore a jacket with the phrase "I really don't care, do you?" during a visit to migrant children in Texas, according to the Daily Mail.
In her book, Melania clarifies that the message was meant as a jab at the media, whom she accused of distorting stories.
The former first lady described her personal efforts to persuade her husband to end the policy of family separation at the southern border, which led to the detention of thousands of migrant children.
"The government should not be taking children away from their parents," she recalls telling Trump. "This has to stop."
Melania Tump addresses more personal matters in memoir
Melania Trump's endorsement of abortion rights was a significant revelation in her memoir, marking a clear departure from Trump's conservative stance.
"A woman's fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes," she writes.
She added, "Restricting a woman's right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body."
On most other matters, she seems to share her husband's opinions, including expressing doubts about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results.
"You can't continue to count votes for days, which is what they did," she writes, seemingly to justify why she didn't condemn the January 6 storming of the Capitol.
She also addresses more personal matters, such as rumors regarding her son Barron Trump's alleged autism, which were propagated by Trump critic Rosie O'Donnell in 2016.
Trump previously conveyed to the Daily Mail that his wife deeply cares about the country, but he is reluctant to expose her or any family member to the public eye due to the two attempts on his life.
"It's not nasty for Democrats like it is for me. And I would like to have my family not have to go out there and go in front of some of the things that you know happen," he said.
Internet mocks at Melania Trump's explanation for swatting Donald Trump’s hand
Once the Daily Mail published Melania Trump's actual reason for swatting Donald Trump's hand, many people commented below the article.
One replied to her reason saying, "Plenty of space on that red carpet."
Another added, "But the red carpet looks more than wide enough to accommodate 4 abreast. So, that’s rubbish."
The third commentator said, "It took them seven years to come up with that excuse? That's hilarious!"
"It's not the only time. There's close-up videos of trump trying to tickle her hand to initiate a hand hold & she pushes his hand away while remaining perfectly poised for the camera," a critic stated.
A person said, "She’s a LIAR!"
Other chimed in, "She's lying. She's repulsed by this flatulent old man and is only hanging around for the Dosh she's trying to make whilst she can."
"So basically that book has been writing for trump and has nothing to do with her. The timing is interresting," an X user claimed.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
