Another Trump family member is facing criticism today after taking legal action against a media outlet. According to reports, Melania Trump is suing the Daily Mail as it has harmed her ability to earn millions during her time as First Lady.
According to Buzzfeed, the lawsuit claims that a Daily Mail article has hindered the former model’s ability to earn millions from “a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world.” The article appeared to suggest that Trump previously worked as an escort.
Though the story has been retracted, Trump has chosen to go forward with the lawsuit and is seeking at least $150 million in damages. Her lawyers claimed that by defaming the first lady, she is now unable to “launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar relationships.” The product categories would include apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, shoes, and skin care, among others.
The public is now criticizing the 46-year-old for wanting to profit from her first lady status. Norman Eisen, who was President Obama’s chief ethics counselor, compared the Trump family to the Kardashians, telling the Associated Press (via Telegraph), “The Trumps are using the White House like the Kardashians used reality TV, to build and vastly expand their overall business enterprises.”
However, the first lady denied that she is using her position for profit. Speaking with The Guardian, lawyer Charles Harden, who is representing Melania Trump, said, “The first lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so. It is not a possibility.”
The lawsuit comes after first daughter Ivanka Trump’s fashion line was dropped by retail giant Nordstrom. President Donald Trump responded to the retailer’s actions in a tweet on Feb. 8, saying that his daughter has been treated “unfairly.”
“My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom,” said the president on his personal Twitter account. “She is a great person—always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!”
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on President Trump allegedly telling female staffers to “dress like women.”
