Melania says she knew back in 1999 Trump would win if he ran for office: 'We knew it wasn't the time'
In a rare interview with Tatler magazine, for their November issue, Melania Trump opened up about how she always believed that her husband would win the presidency "if and when he ran." She also opened up about her strong belief in capitalism and her childhood in Slovenia and travels as a model preparing her to serve as the first lady one day.
While speaking in the in-depth interview, the FLOTUS recalled how then-business mogul Donald Trump had announced on the 'Larry King Live' in 1999 that he was considering running for office. Nevertheless, the now-first couple realized that the time was not right for making a political move. "We knew it wasn't the time. But I did know that if and when he ran, he would win," she told the publication.
Melania, who was originally born Melanija Knavs in 1970 in the small industrial town of Sevnica, in Slovenia. Her father, Viktor Knavs, was a car dealer, and her mother, Amalija Knavs, used to design children's clothing. "I grew up with a beautiful family and had a wonderful childhood," she said. "My mother and father taught us the importance of education, hard work, and family."
At the time when Melania was growing up in Slovenia, the country was being ruled by the Slovenia Communist Party at the time and democracy not established until 1990. When she was asked how her experiences had been growing up under communism, she said: "I can tell you that I believe in free-market capitalism."
She eventually went onto to become a model when she was 16, and by the time she was 18, she was signed with an agency in Milan, Italy. She moved to New York in 1996. The first lady opened up to the publication about how her childhood in Slovenia and subsequent years living across Europe had prepared her for her role in the White House. "Growing up in Slovenia, living in both Milan and Paris at a young age, then moving to the United States and living in New York City in my 20s — all of that has led to my serving our great nation as First Lady," she said.
After she began her stint as the FLOTUS, Melania launched her Be Best initiative, which aimed to raise awareness about the well-being of children, educating parents about online safety, and tackling opioid abuse. She told the outlet that in the three-and-a-half years of her husband's term in office, she was most proud of the measures that Trump administration had taken against addiction. "We have to take away the stigma and shame that comes with addiction and treat it as an illness," she said. "I'm proud of the strides and results this administration has made, resulting in saved lives."
Melania's interview was promoted on the cover of the magazine with words, 'The final days of the First Lady? Melania talks to Tatler.' What's more, the cover of the November issue of the magazine did not feature Melania and instead had the face of Meghan Markle on it. Although Melania used to feature as a cover girl frequently on magazines when she was a model, she hasn't appeared on any major magazine front covers even since her husband's election win in 2016 that shook the nature.
Last year, she became embroiled in a feud with legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour after she took a pass on Melania being featured as the cover star of the fashion magazine. "I believe and I think that those of us that work at Conde Nast believe that you have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view," Wintour said to CNN at the time. Further explaining why former First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of the magazine three times while her husband was in office and the magazine featured women like New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton, Wintour explained, "Obviously these are women that we feel are icons and inspiring to women from a global perspective," Wintour continued. "I also feel even more strongly now that this is not a time to try — and I think one has to be fair, one has to look at all sides — but I don't think it's a moment not to take a stand."
FLOTUS' Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham responded at the time, saying, "To be on the cover of Vogue doesn't define Mrs. Trump, she's been there, done that long before she was First Lady."