While they may not have much in common with the average couple, Donald and Melania Trump may share one typical homeowner argument: It turns out that when it comes to interior design, they don’t see eye to eye.
According to a new report from the New York Times, prior to their move to the White House, the First Lady made some decor choices, including new furniture featuring the “clean, modern lines” that reflect her taste. However, in the months between the inauguration and Melania and Baron’s move to the DC residence in June 2017, the President evidently made some changes of his own, swapping out his wife’s selections with more opulent choices more in keeping with his distinctive style.
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Getty ImagesChip Somodevilla
Whether or not Trump’s changes applied to the entire residence is unclear—the same report notes that Melania is known to maintain a separate bedroom from her husband, so it’s possible that her personal style could be more evident there. Though unconventional to some, having distinct personal spaces is commonplace for the couple, who reportedly maintain the same arrangement while traveling together, opting for separate hotel suites.
The desire for privacy is hardly unusual for the Melania, who has become known as much for her tendency to remove herself from the public eye as she has for her work as First Lady. Indeed, while recent First Ladies like Michelle Obama maintained an extensive roster of public engagements, Melania is said to spend much of her time in the Presidential residence, focusing on raising her son Barron.
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Her behind-the scenes influence includes working with the White House chefs to create a more healthful menu for the President and consulting with the White House Historical Association on residence renovations. She also, the Times says, uses “emoji-laden text messages” to stay close with friends back in New York, including Suzanne Ircha Johnson, whose husband owns the New York Jets; Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who briefly worked as an unpaid adviser to her in the White House; and her sister, Ines Knauss.
In public, Melania has faced controversies recently, including her choice to wear a Zara jacket emblazoned with the phrase “I really don’t care, do u?” while boarding a flight to visit two immigration facilities on the Texas border as well as claims that portions of a pamphlet for her “Be Best” campaign to promote awareness of children’s issues were plagiarized from one released by the FTC during the Obama administration.
While she might have lost out on the furniture debate, the aforementioned campaign is also proof that not all of Melania’s decisions are up for veto. “The president suggested that Mrs. Trump choose a different topic to avoid questions about how the wife of a notorious Twitter bully could lead a campaign to spotlight anti-bullying and other child wellness efforts, and he warned her that she was opening herself to such jeers,” the Times writes. “She rejected his advice, and publicly said she was willing to face the criticism.”
