Melania Trump's Former Staffer Alleges Her Relationship With Donald Was Orchestrated By Reality Show Producers

Summary

• Melania Trump's former senior advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff claimed the Trumps' marriage was fake and orchestrated by reality TV show producers.
• Melania's absence during Trump's criminal charges and her limited public appearances with him after 2024 suggest a possible distancing from her husband.
• Melania described her marriage to Trump as equal and not business-like, contradicting Wolkoff's claims.

Donald Trump is the ultimate showman. It's why he was an excellent host on The Apprentice, a ruthless businessman, and a successful politician figure. Whether you love him or hate him, the fact that Trump wields an audience is undeniable. But as SNL star Seth Meyers has admitted, Trump is different behind the scenes than he appears on camera.

This notion became more evident when First Lady Melania Trump's ex-staffer claimed that their marriage was a sham. In this article, we will dig deep into what Melania's former senior advisor said about their relationship being the orchestration of reality show producers. In other words, is their relationship fake? Following that, we will share the revealing things Melania said about her marriage to former President Donald Trump.

Melania Trump's Former Advisor Slammed Her Marriage To Donald Trump For Being Fake

Many have accused Melania Trump of marrying Donald Trump for his money

Is Donald Trump's marriage to Melania Trump a total sham? Well, Melania's former senior adviser seems to think so. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff posted a clip on X (formerly known as Twitter) in early June 2024 that backed up her claims. The clip, which was from NBC's The Apprentice depicted Trump as a so-called "family man". The clip also depicted Melania carrying around a baby Barron.

"Daddy's coming home," Melania says in the video. It was followed briskly by a Pleasantville-esque "Hi, honey," from Donald Trump as he approached his wife, son, and their lavish home.

In her X post, former senior adviser to Melania Trump, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, slammed the clip as being utterly fake and scripted.

"Millions of Americans watched The Apprentice. Donald was a household name. He needed a woman who looked & played the part & let him be the star. Marrying Melania & making her a Vogue Cover model —legitimized them both."

This wouldn't be the first time someone asserted that Donald and Melania Trump's marriage was basically a business transaction. But it is particularly notable since it came from a former employee of the once The First Lady. Perhaps even more incredible is the fact that Wolkoff claimed that Donald and Melania Trump's marriage was completely orchestrated by reality TV show producers. Mainly Survivor Producer Mark Burnett and NBC boss Jeff Zucker.

Mark Burnett created The Apprentice for Donald Trump who co-produced the show. The show needed to paint a multi-dimensional picture of Donald Trump. This included featuring his life outside of his business, especially his relationship with his children. Thus Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. were all featured on the show. Melania Trump was also featured on The Apprentice, especially when her fashion products were being promoted.

Melania Trump's first appearance on The Apprentice was at the end of the first season in 2004. At the time, she was still his girlfriend.

Based on how Melania Trump and her fashion brands were used on The Apprentice, one could certainly see how the reality TV show benefited her. But there is no evidence to suggest that Survivor Producer Mark Burnett wanted to manipulate Melania's relationship with the real estate mogul in order to increase the value of the show itself. However, anyone who understands how reality shows are produced could see how this rumor could have some legitimacy.

Wolkoff also claimed that the "lie" that Donald and Melania Trump have a romantic and traditional marriage "catapulted" them to The White House. Of course, in the years since, many have come to understand that Donald and Melania's marriage is anything but traditional, as evidenced by his convictions pertaining to the Stormy Daniels case, Melania's absence on his reelection campaign trail and even her decision to skip the June 2024 debate with President Joe Biden.

Former First Lady Melania Trump has remained out of the public eye during her husband's criminal charges pertaining to the Stormy Daniels lawsuit. In which, Trump was accused of cheating on his pregnant Slovenian wife with the adult star.

According to The Daily Mail, legal experts believe there was a legitimate reason for Melania's absence during the trial. But others think she's purposefully distancing herself from her husband. This is supported by the fact that she has only been spotted publicly with her husband a few times in 2024.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff also referenced Ramin Setoodeh's book, "Apprentice In Wonderland", which revealed what Trump was really like behind the scenes on The Apprentice. Both claimed that Trump wouldn't have become President of The United States had it not been for the image created on The Apprentice. Including the idea that Melania Trump was the "happy homemaker" of Donald Trump's "working man".

The clip which Wolkoff shared went viral on X for showing "rare footage" of Melania being a mom to Barron, who recently refused to speak at the RNC further keeping himself out of the public eye. Wolkoff bashed these claims since the images were "rare footage" since they were used in the opening of The Apprentice.

• Donald Trump met Melania at a party in 1998 for New York Fashion Week. Trump was still married to his second wife, Marla Maple, but separated.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff also claimed that the clip sheds light on the facade of their marriage today. Specifically, how Melania Trump has distanced herself away from her husband amid his current scandals and his 2024 campaign. In relation to his cheating scandal that resulted in criminal convictions, Wolkoff said the following:

"Donald finally got caught and along the way Melania knew exactly who she married. She knew that this was a transactional marriage."

She went on to say, "[Melania Trump] became a top model, he became a loving, doting father, and it set them up for their run for the White House.."

What Melania Trump Said About Her Marriage To Donald Trump

Melania married Donald Trump in 2005

Melania Trump is notoriously quiet when it comes to revealing details about her relationship with Donald Trump. Although, she has said a few things about it. Including how her first interaction with Trump could be considered "inappropriate". However, she has mostly stood by him silently. Lending a type of support that has many questioning her allegiances. Others believe she is being authentically supportive in her own way as she has never been a loud and outspoken person.

Either way, fans and critics alike are confused about their relationship.

Melania did, however, reveal some interesting tidbits during a 2005 interview with Larry King. In it, Melania described her new husband as a "perfectionist" rather than a "control freak". Trump, who was sitting beside her, of course, agreed with the analysis.

"Maybe he makes demands in his business because he needs to. You know, he's kind of a general. He needs to, you know, have people in line. But not at home."

Following this, Melania stated that their relationship was not like a business -- thus contradicting what her senior adviser later stated in June 2024.

"We are very equal in the relationship and that's very important."

In the 2005 interview with Larry King, Melania Trump claimed that one is required to be very strong and smart if they are to marry a man like Donald Trump. Especially since Trump works constantly and spends a lot of time away from his relationship.

"He is working all the time. You know, Saturdays, Sundays, he's playing golf. He's working all the time... It's his passion. He loves it. It doesn't bother me. I don't want to change him. I don't want, you know, to say come home and be with me. I don't want to change him. I want to give him space and I think that's very important in a relationship."

Finally, Melania Trump sang her husband's praises, claiming that he is a generous and kind man.

"Amazing heart. He likes to help people. He has friends. He's loyal to it. He has a great sense of humor. Great sense of humor... The way he is, he cares about people."

Regardless, of what Melania Trump has said about her marriage to former President Donald Trump, many still have questions.