Melania Trump has broken her silence regarding the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, her Florida home, in a rare video statement released on September 14 to promote her upcoming memoir. The former First Lady characterized the search as an invasion of privacy and warned all Americans about the importance of protecting their rights and freedoms.
In the video, accompanied by images of the Trump family’s sprawling estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Mrs. Trump said, “I never imagined the government would invade my privacy.”
She shared that the FBI raided her home, going through her personal belongings. She added that what happened to her isn’t just her story but a warning for all Americans, reminding us that our freedoms and rights must be protected.
The August 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago was part of an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents. During the search, FBI agents reportedly recovered at least 300 classified documents, including sensitive US intelligence information.
The raid followed previous attempts by the Justice Department to retrieve outstanding classified material from the former president’s team. In May 2022, the DOJ served a subpoena for the files, and in June of the same year, one of Trump’s lawyers signed a letter attesting that the last of the classified documents had been recovered. However, officials remained unconvinced that they had retrieved all the classified material, leading to the decision to conduct the raid.
Following the search, former President Trump faced 40 charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified records and obstruction of the government’s efforts to seize them. Trump has consistently maintained that the case against him is “politically motivated.” In July 2023, a federal judge dismissed the case, though that ruling is currently being appealed.
Donald Trump shared that during the raid, his wife felt deeply violated by the FBI search. He described how agents went through her closet, rifled through her dresses, and possibly more, leaving her belongings in disarray.
The recent video statement marks a rare public appearance for Melania Trump, who has maintained a low profile while her husband seeks to reclaim the White House. The video is the second she has released in the past week, promoting her forthcoming book, “Melania,” which will be released on October 1, 2024.
In addition to addressing the Mar-a-Lago raid, Mrs. Trump also released a video last week questioning the official account of an assassination attempt on her husband. In that video, she expressed concern about the events surrounding the July 13, 2024 incident, which has been criticized as a serious failure by the US Secret Service.
She expressed frustration over the silence surrounding the incident, questioning why law enforcement didn’t arrest the shooter before the speech. She suggested there is more to the story and called for uncovering the truth in her video.
Melania Trump’s upcoming book is expected to offer readers an inside look at her time in the White House, shed light on her advocacy work, and share previously untold stories and images. The memoir promises to reveal details about the causes close to her heart and provide a behind-the-scenes perspective on her experiences as First Lady.
