‘A monster’: Melania Trump breaks her silence following the attempted assassination of husband

Washington: Melania Trump has broken her silence following the attempted assassination of her husband, sharing the horror she experienced after a “monster” saw the former president as an “inhumane political machine” before opening fire.

In a lengthy and powerful statement, the often elusive former first lady revealed how she realised her family’s life was “on the brink of devastating change” as she watched as a bullet struck Trump and came perilously close to killing him.

Former first lady Melania Trump, pictured in 2021.Credit: AP

And amid growing fears of political violence escalating in the US, she called for the country to “look beyond the left and right, beyond the red and blue”, and rise above the “hate and vitriol” that was tearing Americans apart.

“A monster who recognised my husband as an inhumane political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” she wrote in a lengthy statement posted on X.

“The facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.

“This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”

The statement was a rare public declaration for the former first lady, who has been married to Trump since January 2005 after meeting him in 1998 when she was a model. The pair have a son, Barron, 18, of whom she is fiercely protective.

While the 54-year-old Slovenian-born Melania is immensely popular among Trump’s base and was expected to appear alongside Trump at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, she has remained largely out of the public eye since leaving the White House in early 2021 and is rarely on the campaign trail with her 78-year-old husband.

She was noticeably absent, for example, during the former president’s six-week hush money trial in New York, despite the presence of his sons, Eric and Donald Jnr, and youngest daughter, Tiffany.

Trump was ultimately found guilty in that trial for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with porn star Stormy Daniels, which could have derailed his chances of becoming president in 2016.

Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents following the shooting.Credit: AP

He was meant to be sentenced last Thursday but is now seeking to have the case thrown out after the US Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that presidents and ex-presidents are immune for official acts performed while in office.

Melania Trump’s statement was released on Sunday morning (US time) as shocked Americans grappled with the attempted assassination of their 45th president, days before he was due to be formally announced as the Republican nominee to run for the White House in November.

The shooter, named by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, from Bethel Park in Pennsylvania, was shot dead by Secret Service agents moments after he opened fire from the top of a shed about 130 metres from the stage where Trump was only minutes into his speech.

Barron Trump (right), pictured in 2022 with his parents, was largely shielded from the media while he was growing up.Credit: JNI/Star Max/GC Images

Trump grabbed his ear and dived for cover after the shots rang out before standing up in the protection of Secret Service agents, pumping his fist in the air in what immediately became one of the most iconic images in US history.

“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realised my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” Melania wrote.

“I am grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.”

“To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincere sympathy.

“Your need to summon your inner strength, for such a terrible reason, saddens me.”

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