Melania Trump has broken her silence in her upcoming memoir, revealing the challenges her son Barron faced after rumours circulated online suggesting he was autistic back in 2016. The former first lady shares her side of the story for the first time in her book titled Melania, set to be released on Tuesday.
In 2016, a video speculating that Barron was displaying signs of autism was reshared by TV personality Rosie O’Donnell, amid her longstanding feud with Donald Trump. Barron, who Melania had tried to protect from public scrutiny, was just 10 years old at the time. The video went viral, leading to intense speculation and online bullying directed at Barron.
Melania details in her memoir how the incident caused “irreparable damage” to Barron and implies that he faced bullying in real life as a consequence. She vehemently denies that Barron is autistic and accuses O’Donnell of acting out of malice, rather than genuine concern for autism awareness.
The former first lady describes the pain she felt as a parent witnessing her son being attacked online, with the video suggesting Barron might have autism. The original poster eventually took down the video after Melania took legal action.
O’Donnell, who later apologised and removed the tweet, clarified that her actions were not related to Donald Trump. The feud between O’Donnell and Trump dates back to 2006 and has been marked by public exchanges of insults.
In a significant revelation from her memoir, Melania expresses pro-choice views, standing in contrast to her husband’s stance. She advocates for a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body, including the choice to terminate a pregnancy if she so chooses.
Melania has been promoting her memoir in recent weeks, offering insights into her personal views and experiences. Her book not only sheds light on the challenges her family faced but also reveals her own beliefs on important social issues, setting her apart from her husband’s political positions.