MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Melania calls Trump 'President' in tribute to Prince Philip, truth behind claims that duke called her 'Stormy'

'President Trump and I extend our deepest condolences to Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family, and the people of Great Britain as the world mourns the loss of Prince Philip,' wrote Melania

Melania Trump has now joined husband Donald in paying tribute to the late Prince Philip. Taking to Twitter, the former First Lady shared her condolences to the royal family after Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of Edinburgh had died on Friday, April 9.

Melania was, however, immediately criticized for calling her husband "the President" and many pointed out that he's the 'former president, twice impeached'. Trump too faced criticism for his lengthy, eloquent statement paying tribute to the Prince as his claims of meeting the late monarch were met with doubt. People also claimed there's 'no way he wrote it', but noted it was still better than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's message. But when it came to Melania's post, it was the incorrect mention of the title President that earned people's mockery, bringing to mind that once a British tabloid alleged that during the Trumps' first UK visit, Prince Philip had called Melania 'Stormy'.

RELATED ARTICLES

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and consort to Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99

Donald Trump's touching tribute to Prince Philip dubbed better than Meghan Markle and Harry's: 'No way he wrote this'

Did Prince Philip call Melania 'Stormy'?

Back in 2019, when the then-First Couple, Trump and Melania, paid a state visit to the UK, they met Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace. During that visit, a British tabloid by the name of Suffolk Gazette, published an article that alleged that when the two met the first time, Philip told Melania, "Stormy, I've seen all your films." The report alleged that the late duke had allegedly earned the fury of the then-President for referring to his wife as Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claimed Trump paid her $130,000 for non-disclosure agreement about their 2006 affair.

The tabloid had alleged, "The Duke, famous for being undiplomatic, shook the President’s hand and turned to Melania" before making the remark. The piece continued: "Royal flunkies immediately moved the Trumps down the welcome line at the Palace before the party went inside for the official state banquet. But the damage had already been done. Mr Trump was said to be “furious” and the dinner seating plan was hastily rearranged so that Philip was placed at the other end of the table." The two-year-old article has since been busted as fake news, especially since the tabloid has a history of alleging misinformation, writes Snopes.com. The outlet also adds that the tabloid has published spoofs of the Queen sending her husband to pick up the Trumps in their Range Rover, and Meghan allegedly wanting to name her child Donald after the former POTUS. 

Melania's tribute draws criticism

This bit about the 'Stormy' slip up was very much a false claim, as Melania's tribute, also short and succint by a long margin compared to Trump's, was filled with celebratory notions about the late duke. "President Trump and I extend our deepest condolences to Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family, and the people of Great Britain as the world mourns the loss of Prince Philip," wrote Melania, however drawing flak for forgetting her husband is not the President anymore.

Many reminded her "You mean former president, twice impeached...." Others requested "One Term Former Twice Impeached Disgraced Ex President Trump please...be respectful and use his full title." Some criticised her for now paying tribute to rapper DMX who also died on the same day as Prince Philip. "I'm sure you heard about our Brother DMX's death as well," wrote one user. Another quipped "I know Internet tends to be slow in South Africa, but Trump is still president? *hits refresh *" Others were curious about the couple's relationship, as one user asked "President?? You do know he lost the election don't you, or does he insist you still call him President" with several laughing emojis.