Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former top advisor to Melania Trump, has revealed troubling allegations about the former First Lady’s actions behind the scenes. Wolkoff, once a close friend and confidant of Melania, is now accusing her of covering up “her family’s nefarious activities,” according to a report by Nicki Swift.
Wolkoff initially worked with Melania during the first year of the Trump administration, but their relationship soured after a controversy involving funds from President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. In a social media exchange on December 4, Wolkoff responded to political commentator Geraldo Rivera, criticizing him for defending Melania. “There is NO whitewash for Melania,” Wolkoff wrote, accusing her of lying and covering up for her family.
“She remained SILENT as I was falsely defamed, sued, & criminally investigated… but said NOTHING to the people of AMERICA who deserve the TRUTH!!!” Wolkoff further claimed that Melania had used a memorial service as a publicity opportunity, tweeting, “Melania made this service a photo-op for herself, instead of handling her appearance with dignity and humility”, per Newsweek.
The breaking point in their friendship came after the Trump Organization was accused of being involved in the spending of the $107 million raised for Trump’s inauguration. Wolkoff alleged that the money was used to settle business-related debts, which strained her relationship with Melania. These allegations, along with details of their 15-year friendship, were documented in Wolkoff’s 2020 book Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady.
Following the book’s release, Wolkoff was sued by the Justice Department for allegedly violating a nondisclosure agreement. Wolkoff has continued to speak out, providing additional insights into Melania and Donald Trump’s marriage, calling it “transactional.” In an interview with The Washington Post in November 2023, she stated, “She has stood by him and will continue to stand by him because she is just like him… She knew exactly who she married and warned him that all his secrets would come out if he ran for president.”
One of the most shocking moments of Melania’s time as First Lady was in October 2020, when Wolkoff leaked covertly recorded tapes. In one recording, Melania is heard venting about her role, saying, “They say I’m complicit. I’m the same as him, I support him.” These recordings discussed further in Wolkoff’s book, shed light on the inner workings of Melania’s time in the White House.