White House insider reveals handpicked secret team working on a major transformation for Melania Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: She may be one of the most elusive first ladies in American history, but don't mistake Melania Trump’s silence for passivity.

The former model-turned-East Wing enigma has quietly resurfaced with a vengeance. While critics can't seem to put a finger on her frequent vanishing acts and rare public appearances, insiders say she’s building something big — complete with a handpicked inner circle.

Melania’s trusted crew includes a scandal-plagued Hollywood director, a bowtie-loving architect, a fashion guru, and an interior designer who once escaped to America on a raft. It also includes a whisper-quiet sister, a reclusive father, and a long-haired media agent with an even longer resume. 

Herve Pierre

Wherever Melania Trump goes, Herve Pierre isn't far behind — usually with a garment bag in one hand and a disapproving glance for anything deemed a “snack dress.”

The 59-year-old French-born designer has been Melania’s fashion consigliere since 2017, and he's the architect of her sleek second-term wardrobe.

Forget the old thigh-grazing numbers. Now, it's all Dior capes, double-breasted coats, and gray tweed that screams Chanel boardroom more than Cannes runway.

Pierre doesn’t just style her; he shops for her too, often personally hunting for pieces on Fifth Avenue. Unlike other first ladies, Melania pays for her own clothes.

Pierre's resume features the likes of Balmain, Oscar de la Renta, and Carolina Herrera, plus past work for Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. But it’s Melania he seems most bonded to. One insider told the Daily Mail he's among the rare few who make her "relax."

That unforgettable Jackie Kennedy-style number from 2017 was all Pierre. Same with the black-and-white gown from the latest inauguration. It is safe to say that Pierre is Melania’s go-to guy when it comes to projecting power with polish.

Brett Ratner

Hollywood wrote Brett Ratner off years ago — then Melania Trump handed him a golden ticket.

The 56-year-old director — once sidelined after sexual misconduct allegations (which he vehemently denies) — is now producing an Amazon Prime documentary about Melania. In fact, he’s living at Mar-a-Lago and serving as executive producer, thanks to what insiders call “unprecedented" access.

“No-one can believe Brett has managed to land the Melania project,” a source told the Daily Mail. “He's a good filmmaker, no doubt about it, great even, but he had been effectively cancelled.”

Yet here he is, embedded deep inside Trumpworld — and said to have played a big role in brokering Melania’s jaw-dropping $40 million deal with Amazon.

“Brett is a survivor, someone who constantly reinvents himself, and so are they to a degree. I can see why Melania would like Brett. He's funny, great company, and knows exactly what he wants when it comes to a movie," the source said.

Another insider added, “Most people would be concerned about the fact Brett was ‘cancelled,' but the Trumps don't care. In fact, I think him being on the fringes of Hollywood probably appeals to them.”

Tham Kannalikham

There isn't much about Tham Kannalikham online, but this interior designer is back in the White House — with a clear mission to restore the executive residence to Melania Trump’s aesthetic standards.

Now 47, Kannalikham grew up in Stockton, California, after arriving in the US as a Laotian immigrant child. She studied at FIT in New York and now works out of Manhattan, but beyond that, she keeps it low-key — just the way Melania likes it.

She and her team recently reinstalled Reagan’s terracotta rug and moved military flags behind the Resolute Desk. “We are privileged to help create a home while contributing to the history of the White House for a second time,” she told The Washington Post, describing the job as “humbling and inspiring.”

Kannalikham’s also on the board of the White House Historical Association and the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

“Both Mrs Trump and I were not born in America, yet we share a profound sense of attachment and responsibility to this country,” she said. “We felt a deep obligation to give the White House the respect it deserves, understanding our role as stewards of this historic home.”

Marc Beckman

Melania Trump’s business brain, Marc Beckman, wears many hats.

At 54, this NYU professor and media expert is credited with orchestrating two of Melania’s biggest recent moves — her $40 million Amazon documentary deal and her memoir’s release. He even reportedly introduced Melania to Ratner at Mar-a-Lago.

Beckman also scored a rare interview with the first lady for his podcast 'Some Future Day'. During her appearance, Melania mused on trusting the government. “It is tricky to trust the government… you need to be vigilant," she stated.

That caution also extends to her inner circle. “Melania can be warm and funny in private, but she never lets her guard down, never,” a source told the Daily Mail. “There is always a sense of professionalism, even when she's with 'her' people… When you watch her interact with her close circle it's fascinating because they are all unfailing polite and deferential.”

Beckman knows where the lines are — and how to monetize them.

Steven Spandle

You may not know Steven Spandle’s name, but if you've admired the White House Tennis Pavilion or the residence’s architectural upgrades, you’ve seen his work.

Spandle, 42, is a basically design nerd. Removed from the US Commission of Fine Arts by Biden, he’s now back in favor — especially with Trump pushing for a new White House ballroom. Spandle’s classical touch aligns with Trump-era neoclassical mandates.

Melania trusts him, not just for aesthetics but for architectural legacy. Plus, his love for antiques and art makes him a fixture on the East Coast gala scene — with his financier husband Kev Massoyan always nearby.

Regine Mahaux

The first lady's public image is crafted down to the pixel, and Regine Mahaux is the woman behind the camera.

The Belgian-born, Paris-based photographer has worked with the Trumps since 2008. She captured Melania’s official portraits, including the recent image of Melania in a dark business suit — a look that earned Vogue’s ire and Melania’s approval.

“She’s a different person than she was eight years ago and has always been true to herself,” Mahaux told Hello! Magazine. “She’s always been hands-on, but she’s more free nowadays to make a statement.”

"There is something in her — the strong woman — but at the same time, there is the soft power. She's really good at balancing her husband," she added. 

Melania clearly values her input. At a recent shoot before Pope Francis’s funeral, the FLOTUS huddled over a laptop with Mahaux to review shots.

John Rogers

John Rogers, described as a “consigliere” to Goldman Sachs, is another familiar face in Melania Trump’s trusted circle.

The 69-year-old GOP power player and former Reagan and Bush Sr official now helps Melania with ceremonial planning, hiring, and keeping things tight. He’s also a partner at Goldman Sachs and chair of the White House Historical Association.

He was one of Melania’s first transition team picks this time around, and his deep establishment roots are likely why. Melania may not be a Vassar grad like Jackie O, but with Rogers, she’s doing things by the book.

Rogers also has a thing for antique Jeep Wagoneers — which somehow just fits.

Viktor Knavs and Ines Knauss

Melania Trump may work with stylists, strategists, and dealmakers — but at her core, it’s always been about family.

“Melania is closer to her family than anyone else in her life,” a longtime Trump insider told the Daily Mail. Her mother Amalija Knavs’ death in January last year was a “devastating” blow. But her father Viktor and sister Ines remain constants.

“Ines is very sweet but very quiet,” one source said. “She stays under the radar. Sometimes you will see her having dinner with the family but that's it. She's an enigma.”

“She stays under the radar, but behind the scenes, she is Melania’s rock,” they added. 

As for Viktor, “He keeps himself very much to himself. Melania spends most of her time in her private quarters, and that's where Viktor and Ines tend to be," the tipster noted.

They were fixtures at the White House last time — and it looks like they will be again.