In a move that might raise a few eyebrows (and not in a good way), Melania Trump has found herself at the center of controversy once again, thanks to her former friend and adviser, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. Wolkoff, who once held a close position to the former first lady, has publicly accused Melania of capitalizing on national symbols for personal gain. The latest issue? Ornaments and trinkets that look suspiciously similar to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“The tension between legality and mortality is where Melania Trump toes the line. FLOTUS of the USA altered the image of The Medal of Freedom to monetize from it for personal gain,” Winston Wolkoff wrote on X on Saturday evening. “It’s an exploitation of a national symbol & disrespects its symbolic meaning. It’s unpatriotic.” – Newsweek
For those unfamiliar, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, awarded by the president to individuals who have made significant contributions to the country. It’s a big deal—a symbol of excellence, honor, and service. However, according to Wolkoff, Melania’s new business venture is cheapening this esteemed symbol by turning it into something that can be bought and sold.
Taking to social media, Wolkoff didn’t hold back. She accused Melania of blurring the lines between “legality and morality” by allegedly altering the image of the Medal of Freedom to make a quick buck. Wolkoff described this move as “unpatriotic” and a disrespect to the medal’s symbolic meaning, and let’s be honest, she’s not wrong. Turning a national symbol into a trinket for sale is like turning the White House into a hotel—oh wait, that’s another Trump family endeavor.
“The tension between legality and morality is where Melania Trump toes the line.
FLOTUS of the USA altered the image of The Medal of Freedom to monetize from it for personal gain. It’s an exploitation of a national symbol & disrespects its symbolic meaning. It’s unpatriotic.” – X
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This isn’t the first time Wolkoff has had a bone to pick with the Trumps. After serving as an unpaid senior adviser to Melania during the early days of the Trump administration and playing a pivotal role in planning Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, her relationship with the first lady took a nosedive. Since then, she’s been a vocal critic of Donald and Melania, clarifying that the fallout wasn’t exactly friendly.
The drama between Wolkoff and the Trumps has been anything but private. In a classic Trumpian fashion, Donald jumped into the fray earlier this year, taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, to hurl insults at Wolkoff. He labeled her an airhead, claiming she was dumped by Melania years ago for being nothing more than a publicity-seeking hanger-on who added no value. Of course, Wolkoff was quick to fire back, stating that she quit her position—she wasn’t fired—and she even has the letter to prove it.
As the Trump family continues to face scrutiny over its business dealings and apparent eagerness to capitalize on political prominence, this latest controversy surrounding Melania only adds fuel to the fire. Critics like Wolkoff argue that this commercialization of symbols closely tied to the presidency erodes the dignity of the office and further blurs the already shaky line between public service and private enterprise.
Meanwhile, financial disclosures have recently revealed that Melania Trump isn’t exactly struggling to make ends meet post-White House. According to documents verified by Newsweek, she raked in over $237,000 for a speaking engagement with the Log Cabin Republicans earlier this year. So, while she’s busy selling ornaments that Wolkoff claims tarnish a national symbol, it’s clear Melania’s financial situation is far from dire.
In the end, it’s just another day in the life of the Trumps—controversy is in style, and making money is all that matters, even if it’s at the expense of patriotism.
Featured Image via Political Tribune Gallery
