There are so many bombshells in American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden by Katie Rogers. Possibly even enough to rival Prince Harry’s Spare!
One of the most interesting parts of the book discusses the controversial relationship between Melania Trump and step-daughter Ivanka Trump, with Rogers going into more detail about that infamous ‘I Really Don’t Care, Do U?’ jacket from Zara worn by the former First Lady.
Melania Trump's 'I Really Don't Care' Jacket Was Allegedly A Message For Ivanka Trump
When Donald Trump became president, it was generally accepted that First Lady duties would be shared by his wife, Melania, and his daughter, Ivanka – the latter of whom also served as White House Senior Advisor. And according to Rogers' book, Melania was less than impressed with the suggestion of having to share the position.
Even though insiders have regularly claimed that Melania never imagined being First Lady when she and Trump got married, she still made her opinions about sharing the position with her step-daughter known. And her infamously wearing a jacket with the slogan 'I really don't care' on it was one of the ways she hit back!
Melania Trump And Ivanka Trump's 'Internal Power Struggle'
Rogers wrote that Melania and Ivanka were involved in an "internal power struggle," with Ivanka reportedly changing the role of the First Lady so that it was "geared to serving the entire First Family, not just the First Lady." We think she accomplished that!
"[Melania] was aware that her husband had suggested that his eldest daughter would be helping to share the responsibilities of being First Lady, and this was not a development that pleased her," Rogers wrote in the book.
She then went on to say that the former First Lady wore the jacket as a message to Ivanka, as they "were locked in a quiet competition for press coverage." Melania was, according to Rogers, constantly keeping an eye on "what the press, her critics, and her supporters were saying about her." And we think she would have been happy with the column inches she received when she stepped out in that infamous jacket, even though at the time, she said there was a very different reason for her wearing it.
Back in 2018, after Melania had worn the jacket while traveling to and from Texas to visit migrant children who had been separated from their parents, Melania's spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said: "It's a jacket. There was no hidden message." Melania did take the jacket off when she visited the children, with Grisham adding: "After today's important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn't going to choose to focus on her wardrobe."
In an interview with ABC News, she said she purposely wore the jacket on her flight back to Washington after seeing "how the media was obsessed about it." She added: "It was kind of a message, yes."
It wasn't just Ivanka who Melania reportedly had issues with. According to the book, Melania didn't like the Trump men and their spouses getting involved either – especially as she was always outnumbered and nobody ever seemed to take her side!
"If she ever waged a battle over the issue, it is one she clearly lost," Rogers wrote. "For four years, it was hard to see where the operations of the family business stopped and the Trump administration started," she added.
