First Lady Melania Trump's Full Interview on Fox & Friends

[0:00] You said in the book, you said, sometimes in order to succeed, you must be willing to take risks. [0:06] How did the risks early on as a model prepare you for life as the first lady? [0:10] I think nothing prepared me more to be first lady in front of the world than the fashion industry. [0:19] The fashion industry, it's glamorous, but it's at the same time very tough. [0:27] And as everybody judges you, look at you a certain way. [0:34] So it can be mean world as well. [0:39] So nothing prepared me more for this world than fashion. [0:43] It gives you a thick skin. [0:46] So it was August 27, 1996, and you had this modeling contract. [0:51] You have two suitcases, a carry-on, and a passport. [0:55] That is all you brought with you to America. [0:57] And my portfolio. [0:59] And your portfolio. [1:00] That was very important. [1:01] Absolutely. [1:01] You need to find a job. [1:03] So, Tanya, you hit the ground running. [1:05] You didn't even go to your apartment. [1:06] You immediately went to work. [1:08] Correct. [1:08] Tell us about that. [1:10] Well, when I arrived to New York City, I still remember it was Tuesday afternoon, early afternoon. [1:16] I went directly from the airport to the agency. [1:19] So I start right away. [1:22] You sign the contract. [1:24] You copy your portfolio. [1:28] And you start. [1:30] So it was an exciting time. [1:33] So, 10 years later, after arriving here, you find yourself raising your right hand and reciting [1:39] the Pledge of Allegiance and becoming an American citizen. [1:42] You had no idea at that moment you would go on to become the first lady of the United States [1:48] of America. [1:49] What did that day, becoming a citizen, mean to you? [1:53] I was very proud. [1:56] I went through the process. [1:59] And that day was a big celebration. [2:03] I was very, very proud. [2:05] So, meeting Donald Trump, how did you meet him? [2:09] We met at the party. [2:10] And you could read a whole chapter in the book. [2:13] Yes. [2:14] You were at the Kit Kat Club. [2:15] Yes. [2:15] And there was that moment of connection. [2:17] And then you refused to give him your number. [2:21] And you asked for his number. [2:23] And you went on a modeling shoot in the Caribbean. [2:25] And while you're down there, you couldn't stop thinking about him. [2:28] And so you came home and you called him. [2:31] What happened? [2:34] We went to the first, on the first date, if you could call it a date. [2:39] Because it was mixed with professionalism too, right? [2:42] Correct. [2:42] And I completely understand now that I know him more. [2:45] That was so, it was so him. [2:48] And I liked in one way about it because I, you know, I was the same. [2:53] And I love the vision that he had. [2:56] And the connection that we had. [2:58] So it was very special. [3:00] You get in the car and he drives you to Bedford and outside of the city, what an hour outside [3:05] of the city. [3:06] And he wanted to show you a business or some property that he had. [3:10] So he was combining business with taking you on a first date. [3:14] And it was very nice because we were two of us alone in the car for hour, hour and a half. [3:21] And it's no other noise, no other people, because at that time he was already known and a celebrity. [3:28] So it was really nice to be just two of us. [3:32] Yes. [3:33] Did you fall in love then? [3:35] It was a connection. [3:36] It was a connection. [3:37] You said our chemistry was undeniable. [3:40] Our connection felt natural. [3:42] In private, he he revealed himself as a gentleman displaying tenderness and thoughtfulness. [3:48] Did he ever say to you in those early stages or even in that first car ride, I'm going to be president one day? [3:54] No, we didn't discuss that time, not. [3:57] Did he tell you eventually? [3:58] Did you know politics? [3:59] But soon later, yes, yes, yes, soon later. [4:01] So not that he will be the president, but he always was involved in politics. [4:08] He was very in tune what's going on in the world, especially in this country. [4:15] JUDY WOODRUFF, six years into the relationship, it's April of 2004, and he proposes to you. [4:20] Well, it was, first of all, it was my birthday as well. [4:23] And it was a med gala. [4:25] So it was all in one. [4:26] We were all ready at home, both of us in black tie. [4:31] So he proposed that time. [4:33] Describe your wedding day. [4:35] It was January 22nd, 2005. [4:37] It was almost a year after you were engaged and you got married at Bethesda-by-the-Sea, [4:43] beautiful church down in Palm Beach, and then the reception at Mar-a-Lago. [4:46] What was that day like for you and your family and your mom? [4:49] It was an exciting day, a busy, busy day. [4:55] As every bride, you want to make sure everything goes smoothly. [4:59] And it went. [5:01] We had a good day. [5:02] JUDY WOODRUFF, I'm sure. [5:03] There was a touching story in the book about the baptism candle. [5:07] Your mom brought this over from Slovenia. [5:09] It was the candle that was lit in the church when you were baptized. [5:12] You lit it at your wedding. [5:13] And then you lit it again when Barron was baptized. [5:17] And you still have it, I assume. [5:18] I still have it. [5:20] Interesting. [5:21] I was baptized on Donald's birthday. [5:23] JUDY WOODRUFF, June 14. [5:24] JUDY WOODRUFF, Wow. [5:25] The dates connects. [5:27] JUDY WOODRUFF, yes. [5:27] So my mother, she thought about it and she brought it here to the United States. [5:34] JUDY WOODRUFF, and you say in the book about becoming a mother, you said, [5:37] I stepped back from public life, no longer one of the glamorous photo shoots and the jet-setting [5:42] lifestyle and my career took a back seat. [5:45] Was that a hard change for you? [5:47] It was not. [5:47] JUDY WOODRUFF, No. [5:48] Why? [5:49] Because I had a different purpose in life. [5:51] JUDY WOODRUFF, the best day of your life when they put the baby in your arms? [5:55] Something changes. [5:56] JUDY WOODRUFF, Yes. [5:57] Yeah, something changes. [5:59] JUDY WOODRUFF, There's a picture in the book and you're working at the desk [6:02] and you have Barron in one of those small little motorized cars. [6:07] Books, his books, his children's books are all over the floor. [6:09] You have your papers all over your, the desk. [6:13] And I looked at that picture and I said, this is a working mom's life. [6:17] We can all relate to this. [6:18] Everything's chaotic. [6:20] Everything's hectic, but it's so much fun. [6:22] And everyone tells us to enjoy those moments because they're fleeting [6:25] and your kids grow up and it just flies by. [6:28] When you look at that picture, what was happening in that moment? [6:32] When I see it, that was the time that I did a QVC collection, my jewelry. [6:38] JUDY WOODRUFF, Which sold out in 45 minutes. [6:40] It did, yes. [6:41] It was very successful. [6:43] So, I was doing all at the same time, working, playing with Baron. [6:48] He has his own time with his car and his books and we talking. [6:55] So, I think it's very important that we show our children that we are working, too, [7:01] to give them an example how life is, that they see us, that we are productive, [7:08] that we have an idea, that ideas comes to life. [7:11] And that's how I was showing to Baron. [7:14] AMNA NAWAZ- And did you and Donald Trump, [7:16] did you ever talk about having more children? [7:18] Did you want a larger family? [7:19] AMNA NAWAZ- I was always perfectly fine with one and Donald was encouraging to have more. [7:30] And I said, like, I'm completely fine with one because it's a very busy life and I know how [7:38] busy he is and I'm in charge of everything. So, that's why it's just perfect. [7:47] AMNA NAWAZ- So, Donald was on Brian Kilmeade's show last weekend [7:51] and Brian was asking him about your relationship. And he said, [7:55] you know, Brian, she really, really does love me. So, what do you love most about your husband? [8:01] AMNA NAWAZ- His being, his humor, his personality, his kindness. [8:10] He's very special. His positivity, his energy, it's unbelievable. [8:20] Yes. So, we have a beautiful relationship. [8:23] AMNA NAWAZ- We see these clips of Donald Trump [8:25] giving a lady at the cash register $100 to pay for her groceries. [8:29] The little boy with a rare disease, he invites him to the rally in New York. And the little boy [8:34] cries when he receives a letter on his birthday from Donald Trump. [8:37] Donald Trump called all the, he calls all the service members, their family members, [8:42] when they lose their lives. These are stories that a lot of people, [8:46] you don't get to see this on other networks. Is that the man he is? [8:49] AMNA NAWAZ- That's the man he is, yes. [8:51] AMNA NAWAZ- One word to describe him, what would that be, one or two words? [8:54] AMNA NAWAZ- Caring, caring, especially for this country. [9:01] AMNA NAWAZ- And what do the two of you like to do for fun, [9:05] if you're not working? [9:05] AMNA NAWAZ- To have dinner, sometimes quiet dinner or [9:09] dinner with friends and listen to the music, all kind of different musics. [9:15] AMNA NAWAZ- I hear he likes to be the DJ. [9:17] AMNA NAWAZ- He likes to be the DJ. And it's a very [9:22] fun night when he does that. [9:24] AMNA NAWAZ- When you married Donald Trump, [9:25] he already had four children. And you talk about that in the book. And it would seem so fun to have [9:30] just so much life and children around you. You said, I gave everyone their own space, [9:35] grounded in love and respect. You didn't always agree, but acknowledged differing viewpoints. [9:41] So what advice do you have for blended families? [9:43] AMNA NAWAZ- To take individual as they are, you cannot control anyone. You could [9:50] control only your own behavior, your own words. Everybody's in control of own self. [9:59] I'm not in control of my husband. I'm not in control of his children. I'm not even in control of my [10:05] child. He's his own person. And we all have yes and nos. And we are all individuals. Once you, [10:16] you lead your life with respect and love, that's all what it matters. [10:22] AMNA NAWAZ- Barron now, he's so handsome. And we've enjoyed watching him grow up. [10:26] I'm very proud of you for keeping his life private. I think that's important. [10:31] Barron's now in college. What was that like for you? What's advice? What advice can you give [10:35] all of us who are a little nervous about that day because we just love our children so much? [10:39] What's it like being an empty nester? [10:41] AMNA NAWAZ- I could not say I'm an empty nester. I don't feel that way. [10:47] I raised Barron as our own person and gave him his own yes and nos. I respect that. [10:56] It was his decision to come here, that he wants to be in New York and study in New York and live [11:03] in his home. And I respect that. And he's an incredible young man. I'm very proud of what he [11:17] grew up to. His strength, his intelligence, his knowledge, his kindness, it's admirable. And [11:28] he's enjoying his college days. I hope he will have a great experience because his life is very [11:36] different than any other 18, 19-year-old child. [11:40] AMNA NAWAZ- I was moved to tears in your book when I read about the loss of your mother. And you said [11:45] this about her loss. There is an unparalleled sorrow in losing a mother, a profound heartache [11:52] that shatters the spirit into fragments. For me, this heartache feels insurmountable. And the weight [12:00] of grief is overwhelming. It does feel insurmountable sometimes. And let me be strong. But how do we, [12:10] what advice do you have? Because I remember when my mom lost my grandmother, [12:14] it was devastating. And it really separated her from God for a while. She came back to God. She just [12:20] had a lot of questions because she felt like he took someone that was so special to her away from [12:26] all of us. But it made my faith stronger. But what advice do you have for people that are going through [12:31] this to lose a parent? Well, it's a very moment that nobody prepares you. And it's a grief that comes [12:44] in waves. And you need to feel it. You need to have that inner peace that to go with it, to feel it, [12:53] to experience it. And, first of all, I want to thank all of the people around the world who sent [13:03] beautiful letters, beautiful prayers, very kind notes. Thank you to everybody who wrote me, [13:16] who thought about me and my family, and was really deeply appreciated. [13:21] LISA DESJARDINS- Yes. And I know she lives on in Barron. [13:25] I remember, at her funeral, Donald Trump talked about how your mom would cook for him. And that's [13:31] probably why Barron is so tall. [13:33] BARRON- She was a very special woman, full of warmth, kindness, and also strength. Her life was [13:42] incredible. In Slovenia, she established a life for myself and for my sister, [13:48] incredible life, also my father. But her strength was admirable. And once Barron was born, he was her [14:05] focus. She moved here to United States to be close to him and to raise him in one way. It's almost like [14:15] she was a second mother, especially because of my schedule in the White House and being so busy. [14:23] And they had an incredible bond, her and Barron. It was a relationship like no other. [14:30] LISA DESJARDINS- Why did you want to tell your story in this book? [14:34] BARRON- I believe that it was the time that I tell my story and the truth. [14:39] BARRON- It is a lot of misinformation and falsehoods written about me. And I want to [14:51] put the record straight. And people can learn some things that they were never discussed. And [15:01] I hope they enjoy the book. [15:02] BARRON- How did you feel about Donald Trump running again? [15:05] BARRON- I support him. I know how passionate he is to make America great again. [15:11] BARRON- We saw you backstage at the RNC. Do you want to talk about why you decided not to [15:17] come out on stage and give a speech like you did in 2016? [15:20] BARRON- It was my decision. I think it was just the time. I think it was the right time. [15:25] I mean, days before I wrote a beautiful letter to America. [15:33] BARRON- Yes. [15:33] BARRON- And I think, in one way, that letter was my speech. [15:38] BARRON- The raid on Mar-a-Lago. The house manager texts you and says, [15:41] the FBI is outside the house. They had access to my bedroom, closets, office, [15:47] and rummaged through my personal items. Ever even searched Barron's room, you say. [15:53] So how invasive was that? Did it make you angry? How did you feel? [15:57] BARRON- Yeah, it made me angry. Yes. Invasion of privacy. And the way it was done [16:07] was... I was really surprised. [16:09] BARRON- And you told your house manager, [16:11] just leave it. Don't touch anything. Don't put it back. You wanted to see it for your own eyes, [16:16] with your own eyes. What did it look like when you walked back in your house that had been raided? [16:22] BARRON- I saw unpleasant stuff that nobody wants to see it. And you get angry because, [16:30] you know, nobody should be putting up with that kind of stuff. [16:36] Some person, I don't even know who or how many people, they, you know, they went through my stuff. [16:43] BARRON- So, the assassination attempts, the first one is in Butler, Pennsylvania. [16:47] And you write about watching the assassination attempt on TV. And you started working, [16:53] and you were distracted, so you pushed pause. I think your chief of staff maybe called you [16:57] and said, he's OK, but there's been a shooting. What happened next? [17:02] BARRON- I ran to the TV, and I rewind it, and I watched it. I was only a few minutes behind. [17:14] And something, I guess, looked over me. So, I didn't really see live, live, but maybe, [17:24] you know, three minutes, few minutes later. But when I saw it, I, you know, it was only, [17:31] nobody really knew yet, because when you see him on the floor, and you don't know, [17:39] you don't know what really happened. [17:41] BARRON- So, you called him, and he didn't answer his phone, [17:44] and you called secret service. And what did they say? [17:47] BARRON- First, the secret service was not available, too, because they were with him, [17:52] right? And then, after that, I got the secret service on the phone, and they said that he's OK. [17:58] BARRON- We are on the way to the hospital. We are, we, he will be OK. [18:04] BARRON- And were you able to talk to him on the phone eventually? [18:07] BARRON- Yes, I did. I did. [18:08] BARRON- And then your son rushes into the room. [18:11] BARRON- Yes. [18:12] BARRON- And he had been told. Your son is in college, I understand, [18:15] but he's still your child. This is his father. How difficult was that, to have that conversation? [18:22] BARRON- Very difficult, very difficult. He was outside playing sport, [18:27] BARRON- And he rushed in, and it was very, very difficult. [18:33] BARRON- And then, a few weeks later, there's another attempt on your husband's life [18:38] at your golf course. Where were you, and what was your reaction to this attempt? [18:43] BARRON- I was in New York City, actually. And I saw it on the television. [18:51] BARRON- And as soon as I saw it on television, I called again. And he was OK, because Secret [19:00] Service were great. The guys that they were with him, they were fantastic. And I think both of the [19:09] events, they were really miracles. If you really think about it, the July 13th was a miracle. Like, [19:20] that much. And he could, you know, he could not be with us. [19:23] BARRON- And he normally doesn't call for that one screen. [19:27] BARRON- Correct. [19:28] BARRON- He waits until the end of the speech. [19:29] BARRON- Correct. [19:30] BARRON- So, just looking at that screen allowed him to turn his head. [19:33] BARRON- Yes. [19:33] BARRON- And he said it was providential. [19:35] BARRON- Did you, does this make you believe more in a higher power? How has that been for you? [19:41] BARRON- I think something was watching over him. [19:45] BARRON- I think he's, it's almost like Kant really, really needs him. [19:50] BARRON- That maybe God's sparing his life? [19:52] BARRON- Yes, yes. [19:53] BARRON- And then we were told this week, and we were told that authorities have already [20:00] known this for a while, that there was an Iranian plot to kill your husband. So, [20:07] I watched this video that you released on social media questioning the first assassination attempt. [20:14] BARRON- For the second one, if they knew that there was this plot, why didn't they sweep the golf course? [20:18] BARRON- You know, it's interesting how quiet and everything became, all of the mainstream media. [20:31] There were a few days reporting about July 13 event, and everything then became quiet. So, [20:39] I had a lot of questions. What's going on? It's, this is not normal. And is it really shocking [20:49] that all this egregious violence goes against my husband, especially that we hear the leaders [21:04] from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as a threat to democracy, calling him [21:13] vile names. They only fueling a toxic atmosphere and giving power all of these people that they want [21:22] to do harm to him. This needs to stop. This needs to stop. The country needs to unite. And I encourage [21:31] everybody to read my letter that I wrote on July 14 again, because that cannot continue. [21:39] AMNA NAWAZ- The letter was very powerful. What made you get to the point of writing that letter? [21:44] BARRON- That's how I felt. [21:46] AMNA NAWAZ- Mm-hmm. [21:47] AMNA NAWAZ- That's how I felt. [21:48] AMNA NAWAZ- How do you feel, when people say they don't like him, [21:52] what do you wish they knew about him? [21:53] BARRON- That he is really a family man. He loves his family. He loves this country. [22:01] AMNA NAWAZ- And all he wants to build, build better and prosperous. [22:09] AMNA NAWAZ- Yeah. He's just strong. He's not afraid to... [22:12] AMNA NAWAZ- No, he's not strong. [22:13] AMNA NAWAZ- Talk about the way it really is. [22:14] AMNA NAWAZ- You could see the way he was when he was shot that in the ear, [22:19] that the way he stood up and he, he said, fight, fight, fight, because we cannot allow that to happen. [22:27] AMNA NAWAZ- Okay. Becoming First Lady, you wrote in the book when you found out [22:31] you were watching Fox News right here in Trump Tower. And you write, [22:35] I vividly recall Bret Baier's announcement, the president elect is Donald J. Trump. [22:43] And he looked at you and he said, can you believe it? And you said, yes, I can. [22:48] Your life immediately changed. When did it hit you? I am the first lady of the United States. [22:56] AMNA NAWAZ- I don't know that it hits you, but you, you know that you have extra, extra responsibility. [23:06] AMNA NAWAZ- You talked about having special bonds with first ladies, [23:08] with the wives of prime ministers. Who really did you, when you were just there with them [23:13] and you had to sit at the dinner table and talk, I'm sure some were just incredibly fun. [23:17] You really bonded with a few of them. Anyone come to mind? [23:21] AMNA NAWAZ- It's interesting because when you meet many times, you establish relationship. [23:29] So with Mrs. Macron, Brigitte Macron, she's fun. [23:33] AMNA NAWAZ- She's fun. We always had great laughs. And with Aki, Mrs. Abe, [23:41] and I'm so sorry what happened to him. So it was very special relationships with, you know, with each of them. [23:52] AMNA NAWAZ- You have also traveled to visit our soldiers. You did that at Christmas time. [23:57] You left your family. It was in the dead of night. And you fly over to Iraq to bless the troops. [24:03] What was that like for you? And what about the reaction from the troops? [24:07] AMNA NAWAZ- It was a very secretive meeting. And when we arrived that night, [24:15] the energy of the soldiers, we walked in and everybody started cheering that they see us. [24:25] Like, what a big surprise. [24:27] AMNA NAWAZ- They were not expecting that, were they? [24:28] AMNA NAWAZ- Not at all. [24:29] AMNA NAWAZ- So what makes you, what makes Donald Trump want to do this again? [24:33] AMNA NAWAZ- All he wants to, as he says, make America great again. [24:38] He wants to make this country prosperous, safe for everybody. [24:43] AMNA NAWAZ- He wants to make American dream possible again. [24:48] AMNA NAWAZ- What was your reaction to Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee? [24:53] AMNA NAWAZ- Well, how I see it is, the record speaks for itself. [25:01] The country is suffering. People are not able to buy usual necessities for their families. [25:13] AMNA NAWAZ- We have wars going on around the world. Soldiers are dying. They were dying [25:23] under this administration because of weak leadership. The border is open and dangerous. A lot of [25:30] fentanyl is coming over, killing our youth. It's very hard to see. And an economy, it's really not great. [25:44] AMNA NAWAZ- Inflation is high. And if we compare these four years under this administration compared [25:52] to four years under my husband as commander in chief, he was leading the country through peace, [26:04] through strength. And the border was safer than ever before. We didn't have any wars. People were [26:14] prospering. They had jobs. They could support their families. So I think American people need to decide [26:23] what they really want. Maybe some, you know, strong tweets, but everything else great for this country. [26:36] So it's all in the Americans' people's hands on November 5th.