Melania Trump has said that the relationship between her and husband Donald Trump is "fine" and that she has “much more important things to think about” than allegations he cheated on her.
The ABC News exclusive interview is part of a network special titled Being Melania: The First Lady scheduled to air Friday night at 10:00pm local time.
In clips that aired prior to the special, Ms Trump said she is “a mother and a first lady” and that allegations of her husband's infidelities are not a “concern and focus.” Asked if she loves her husband, she says, “Yes, we are fine. Yes.”
Adult actor Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had sex with President Trump in 2006. Mr Trump has denied the allegation but has has acknowledged reimbursing his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush money payment made to her before the 2016 election.
Follow along with The Independent’s live coverage and analysis surrounding the first lady below.
With just a few hours left before ABC News’ nighttime special on Melania Trump, here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming television event and major exclusive interview with the first lady.
Melania Trump’s spokesperson Stephanie Grisham has also slammed The View’s guest host Yvette Nicole Brown for comments she made about the first lady on the daytime talk show.
“Check your facts before you accuse someone of being a mistress,” Ms Grisham wrote, responding to Ms Brown’s claims that Ms Trump was one of the president’s mistresses at one point. “She’s your @FLOTUS - she deserves your respect & certainly not your lies.”
Melania Trump’s spokesperson Stephanie Grisham tweeted a video of Sean Hannity’s opening segment from his show in which he criticised “media bullies” who were supposedly attacking the first lady, including Jimmy Kimmel.
“Thank you @SeanHannity for calling out the media bullies who attack @FLOTUS every day, Ms Grisham wrote.
A new poll showed Melania Trump’s favourability has ticked upwards ahead of an ABC News special titled “Being Melania: The First Lady.”
Her rating currently stands at 54 per cent according to the CNN survey, and has consistently measured well above her husband’s rating since the two ascended to the White House.
Melania Trump’s comments have sparked controversy — and now, comedy — after claiming she is “the most bullied person in the world.”
The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah mocked the comments in a segment discussing the first lady’s Be Best initiative, which focuses on cyberbullying.
The first lady’s Twitter handle posted this video of Melania Trump touring Egypt, featuring slow motion shots of her walking near pyramids and meeting with local officials.
Melania Trump has also tweeted these photos from her trip to Africa, showing the first lady meeting children at the Chipala Primary School.
The first lady wrote the staff and children “were filled [with] enthusiasm for education, key to success for generations to come.”
Melania Trump said she has been enjoying her time living in Washington as first lady and would support her husband in a re-election bid for the White House, telling ABC News, “I believe that my husband is doing an incredible job for this nation and I want the American people to have success.”
“Whatever he will decide I will support him,” she said. “I’m enjoying it. I really love to live in Washington and in the White House. Yes, I’m enjoying it.”
Melania Trump joked during her ABC News interview that she wished she had more control over her husband.
“I give him my honest advice and honest opinions,” she said. “And then he does what he wants to do.”
“In #Kenya visiting children at The Nest Children’s Home impacted me greatly, & I so enjoyed the cultural performance at Kenya National Theatre,” Melania Trump wrote on Twitter from her trip to Africa, thanking the first lady of Kenya and the US Embassy “for making me feel so welcome.”
The tweet arrived a day before her interview from Africa was set to air on ABC News.
Melania Trump defended her husband’s actions as president during the new interview, telling ABC News, “I believe that my husband is doing an incredible job for this nation.”
The first lady also brushed aside allegations of his affairs and said she would support him if he chose to run again in 2020 (the president has already launched his re-election campaign).
Here’s video of Melania Trump brushing aside her husband’s allegations of affairs during their marriage, telling ABC News she has “much more important things to think about and to do.”
ABC News has released this teaser of the network’s special “Being Melania: The First Lady”
The special — and accompanying exclusive interview from the first lady’s trip to Africa — were scheduled to air Friday night.
Here’s video of the moment Melania Trump tells ABC News she believed she’s “the most bullied person in the world.”
The first lady also discussed her “Be Best” initiative, which focuses on cyberbullying and social wellbeing for the youth.
Melania Trump tweeted these photos of her trip to Africa — her first solo international visit as first lady — ahead of ABC News’ special Friday night titled “Being Melania: The First Lady.”
The first lady spoke to ABC News during her trip throughout the continent.
In a clip that aired before Friday night’s special on the first lady, Melania Trump told ABC News there were several members of her husband’s administration who she did not trust — including people who continue to work in the White House.
Melania Trump’s extensive interview with ABC News wasn’t the only thing to stir headlines during her visit to Africa.
The first lady once again caused controversy by her fashion choices, opting to wear a white pith helmet despite its associations to colonial rule across the continent.
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