**DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in July 2020**
Melania Trump has long faced scrutiny over her honesty, particularly regarding the fine print of her immigration to the United States. Despite her quiet public persona, the First Lady’s past is riddled with questions, particularly around how she obtained the coveted “Einstein visa,” a visa reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.” This raises eyebrows, given that Melania’s career as a model never truly reached the level of international acclaim required for such a visa.
The skepticism surrounding her visa grew further when reports suggested that Melania may have worked in the U.S. illegally before securing her residency. Melania has consistently claimed she followed the law, which is a particularly important narrative given her husband, Donald Trump’s harsh stance on immigration. However, a report by Politico challenged her story, revealing that the nude photoshoot she did for the cover of the New York Times was completed when she was working illegally in the U.S.
And now, thanks to transcripts uncovered by the now-defunct Racked, there’s another layer of deception tied to the scandal around Melania’s visa. In a 2013 deposition regarding a lawsuit over her failed skincare line, Melania testified under oath that she had graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. This, as it turns out, was a lie.
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Melania eventually admitted that she had never completed her degree and was, in fact, a college dropout. She later clarified that she had “paused her studies,” though she never resumed them. But this brings into question the veracity of the information she provided on her immigration forms to obtain the Einstein visa. If she lied under oath in 2013 about her education, isn’t it plausible that the same dishonesty could be found in her immigration application?
The Einstein visa is not handed out lightly. It’s reserved for the “best of the best,” and applicants are required to provide thorough documentation of their qualifications, including education. If Melania lied about her education in a legal deposition, it raises the possibility that similar falsehoods could have been presented in her visa application.
Given the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration, including calls to deport immigrants for even minor infractions, the First Lady should be held to the same standard. Lying on an immigration form is a serious offense with significant legal consequences, and if Melania Trump misrepresented her qualifications, it’s a violation that cannot be ignored. In a system where her husband has made it his mission to punish dishonesty in immigration, Melania’s past deserves closer scrutiny.
Featured image via Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/The White House
