NEW YORK — In his latest book, “All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America,” Michael Wolff offers an intimate and controversial look at Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and his complex relationship with Melania Trump, revealing a web of separations, calculated public appearances, and behind-the-scenes tensions that seems to define the couple’s dynamic during this politically charged period.
Wolff’s exploration into what he dubs “the most public marriage in the nation” draws on insights from sources close to the Trumps, including a confidant who allegedly shared candid opinions about Melania’s feelings toward her husband, stating, “She (expletive) hates him.” This stark revelation contradicts the often polished and poised image the couple has projected in public.
Throughout the 18 month campaign that led up to the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Melania was notably absent from key events, including the convention, where she was expected to deliver a significant speech but ultimately did not participate beyond a silent appearance alongside her husband following his acceptance speech.
The book describes the former First Lady as occasionally vague and elusive, rarely present at campaign activities, and rarely residing at the usual Trump family addresses. This elusive nature led to the campaign floating the concept of a “part-time First Lady,” where she would divide her time between New York and the White House, highlighting the transactional elements of their marriage, as Wolff puts it.
Melania’s absence was not only noticeable during campaign events but also during critical legal challenges faced by Donald Trump, including his first indictment and the Stormy Daniels trial where he faced several felony charges. Wolff reports that when advised to support her husband by attending these proceedings, Melania refused, underscoring the distance between the public and private facets of her relationship with Donald.
The notion of Melania as a peripheral figure is not new, according to Wolff, who points out that this pattern of sporadic public appearances was established during her time as First Lady from 2017-2021, a role in which she was often absent from the White House and public view.
In a surprising move, Melania released her own book titled “Melania” in October 2024, which the Trump campaign reportedly did not anticipate. The memoir, which depicts Donald in a mostly favorable light, was dropped at a critical moment during the campaign, causing speculation about her motives.
Just a day before a major rally in New York’s Madison Square Garden, Melania made an unexpected offer to introduce her husband, an act Wolff suggests might have been an attempt at reconciliation or support, though her conditions for public appearances remained stringent, only agreeing to appear on election night in the event of a decisive victory.
Responses to Wolff’s portrayal have been sharply critical from Trump’s circle. Campaign co-chairs Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, alongside White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, have dismissed Wolff as a fabricator of falsehoods afflicted by an extreme bias against Trump, urging the public to ignore his claims.
Despite such rebukes and the highly contentious nature of his work, Wolff maintains that his account is based on credible sources, although these are not explicitly identified in his narrative. His previous works, including the 2018 bestseller “Fire and Fury,” have similarly stirred significant controversy and debate regarding their accuracy and the portrayal of the Trump administration’s internal workings.
Whether seen as a revealing exposé or a contentious muddle of disputed anecdotes, “All or Nothing” undeniably adds another layer of intrigue and debate to the ever-complicated narrative surrounding one of the most scrutinized marriages in American political history.