**DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in July of 2023 and cites a 2016 interview**
Former First Lady Melania Trump isn’t one to center herself in the spotlight these days. In recent years, following her husband’s fall from power and subsequent scandals that range from porn star hush money indictments to multiple federal indictments for violations of the Espionage Act, Melania Trump has gradually become more silent, retreating further from the public eye.
But the Slovenia-born former “model” wasn’t always this way.
In fact, Melania could have been considered an entirely different person in 2016 before her husband was elected to the highest office in the nation. Back then, Melania Trump was opinionated, perhaps a bit conceited, and loved garnering public attention.
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This stark difference is quite noticeable if you look back on the infamous Dejour Magazine interview she did in the midst of her husband’s 2016 presidential campaign — in which the then-soon-to-be first lady held nothing back as she spoke of herself.
During that now-notorious interview, the topic turned to somewhat distasteful remarks made by MSNBC host Chris Matthews in the midst of Donald’s presidential campaign, in which Mathews commented on Melania’s physical appearance, saying, “Did you see her walk? Runway walk. My God, is that good. I could watch that runway show.”
Melania — whose own husband has openly bragged about grabbing women by their genitals without their consent — acted as though she was somehow taken aback by the MSNBC host’s remarks, responding, “Unbelievable. That’s what I’m saying! I’m not only a beauty, I’m smart. I have brains. I’m intelligent. I would just say, men will be men.”
The interview became even more bizarre when she turned to describe an interaction she claims to have had with the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, who allegedly tried to talk Melania into making out with him to play a trick on Donald Trump.
“It was here in New York in the Pierre Hotel,” Melania told interview host Mickey Rapkin. “[Jackson] called us, so we went over and we had dinner. Just after dinner, we were chatting on the sofa and my husband went into another room to see some art somebody wanted to show him.”
“And Michael said to me, ‘Hey when Trump comes back, let’s start kissing so he will be jealous!'”
Melania claimed she rejected the pop star’s suggestion, and they both “laughing so hard.”
Featured image via Flickr/Trump White House Archives
