In the ongoing trial of former President Donald Trump in New York City, an unexpected detail involving Melania Trump, the former first lady, surfaced from the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer.
According to Cohen, it was Melania who devised the “locker room talk” defense for the controversial comments about women made by Trump, caught on a leaked “Access Hollywood” tape.
Cohen’s recollections came to light during his testimony in court, harking back to a crucial juncture in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The jury was presented with email correspondences between Cohen and then-campaign manager Steve Bannon, where Cohen communicated the urgency of controlling the story surrounding the leaked tape.
Cohen recalled a conversation with Trump during a family holiday in London. Trump asked Cohen to utilize all his media contacts to frame the incident as “locker room talk,” a tactic Melania suggested, with the intent to contain the situation and mitigate the tape’s adverse effect on Trump’s campaign.
Even though Melania Trump has not attended her husband’s trial nor commented on the charges brought forward by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, her indirect role in the proceedings is apparent. Prosecutors believe the evidence indicates that Trump may have been unfaithful to his wife multiple times and attempted to hide these incidents to safeguard his campaign.
Prior testimony in the trial hinted at Melania’s influence, with a White House staffer suggesting that the former first lady had a more significant role in Trump’s decisions than what was publicly known.
Another incident involving Melania occurred after a lunch break in the trial. When a confidentiality agreement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels began to fall apart, and Cohen needed to inform Trump, Melania assisted in establishing the communication. She sent a text to Cohen on October 18, 2016, saying, “Good morning Michael, can u pls call DT on his cell. Thanks,” enabling Cohen to update Trump directly.
The trial continues to reveal the complexities of Trump’s personal and political life, with Melania Trump’s behind-the-scenes influence emerging as a critical aspect. As more information comes to light, it provides the court and the public with a deeper understanding of the strategies Trump and his team employed during key moments of his 2016 campaign.