Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews stated that the First Lady preferred living in New York and disliked spending time in Washington.
Sarah Matthews, who previously served as White House Deputy Press Secretary, revealed on a podcast that she never once met Melania Trump during her time in the administration. According to Matthews, the President’s wife avoided living in Washington—viewing the White House as outdated and dilapidated—and preferred to stay in New York.
Matthews also mentioned rumors that Melania was paid to participate in 2020 campaign events, though she offered no concrete evidence. The former staffer also remarked wryly that, given recent discussions regarding Trump’s relationship with his aide Natalie Harp, the First Lady’s fee might increase.
It is worth noting that Harp was appointed as the President’s executive assistant in 2025, and reports of an unusually close relationship between her and Trump have appeared in books by New York Times journalists and Michael Wolff.
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