Summary: In a libel lawsuit against the Daily Mail for their escort claim against the first lady, Mrs. Trump mentioned her ability to profit off being the first lady as being damaged due to the false claim.
Melania Trump has been the first lady for several weeks but little has been said about what she intends to do with her role. Generally, the first lady uses her position as a way of giving back the public.
Many past first ladies used their position the help the nation’s youth, starting with Dolley Madison in 1809-1817. Madison was a big supporter of the Washington City Orphan Asylum, a trend that many first ladies have followed. Other first ladies like Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan focused their efforts on drug abuse and the damages drugs cause on family and culture.
The only indication of the work Mrs. Trump is concerned with is her ability to make money of her personal brand. Mrs. Trump is currently involved in a libel lawsuit against the Daily Mail. She re-filed the lawsuit against the corporation that owns the Daily Mail over an article they published claiming she used to work as an escort. The claim has since been retracted. Her lawyers argue that the Daily Mail knew the report was false and libelous, damaging her reputation and ability to profit off her position.
The lawsuit states, she “had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world.”
She is seeking $150 million in compensatory and punitive damages for losses in products apparel, accessories, jewelry, hair care, cosmetics, and fragrance.
Many are questioning the first family’s ability to separate public service with private business interests. President Trump is being sued by a group of attorneys for accepting foreign gifts and payments; a violation of a constitutional clause prohibiting such acts. Mrs. Trump’s lawsuit clearly states that she is preparing to use her government positon for private gain, a clear breach of the rules.
Do you think other first ladies have not had their personal brand benefit from their position in the public eye? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about Melania Trump, read these articles:
- The Daily Mail Hit with $150M Lawsuit for Suggesting Melania Trump Was an Escort
- Donald Trump Threatens to Sue New York Times
- Donald Trump Involved in Almost 4,000 Lawsuits
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