Donald Trump’s wife Melania’s three-word response spoke volumes amid a growing diplomatic dispute. The first lady addressed questions about a possible Ukraine visit. This comes as tensions escalate over who truly brokered a key ceasefire.
Melania Trump addresses possible Ukraine visit amid ceasefire controversy
First lady Melania Trump gave a cryptic response when asked about a possible trip to Ukraine, The Daily Beast reported on Oct. 24. Melania and President Donald Trump cast their midterm election votes at a West Palm Beach polling location near Mar-a-Lago on Saturday. There, reporters asked the first lady whether she planned to visit the war-torn country. “We will see,” she replied before quickly leaving the venue. “It could happen,” the president added, following close behind.
The exchange came one day after the White House credited Melania with brokering a localized ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. The ceasefire aims to allow evacuations and delivery of vital supplies to residents facing food shortages and disease.
However, the announcement sparked immediate backlash. Critics accused the first lady of stealing credit from Pope Leo. The pope had called Russian President Vladimir Putin from his hospital bed to request a ceasefire in Oleshky one week earlier. He made the call while recovering from lung cancer surgery.
Melania’s top adviser, Marc Beckman, dismissed the pope’s earlier intervention on Fox & Friends Weekend. “Yesterday she brokered–single-handedly brokered–a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine within the area of Oleshky,” Beckman said. He also claimed Melania actually inspired the pope to get involved in the cause.
President Trump backed his wife’s account. He told reporters she is “doing better than the professionals right now.” Melania responded by saying, “It is great to have [the] pope’s support.”
Vatican officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, maintained the ceasefire was the pope’s initiative and not Melania’s. Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia thanked both Melania and Pope Leo, describing the ceasefire as the “culmination of a long process involving all sides.”
