U.S. Backs Iraq’s Move to Detain ISIS Fighters, Urges Global Repatriation 
Taiwan President Offers Cooperation With Ukraine to Combat Sanctions Evasion 
U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Visit Azerbaijan and Armenia Following Historic Peace Deal 
NATO, Trump, and Arctic Security: Greenland Talks Highlight Rising Russia-China Concerns 
U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Iran Over Deadly Crackdown on Protests 
U.S. Steps Aside as Syria Reclaims SDF-Held Territory in Power Shift 
Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration Unlawfully Halted EV Charger Funding 
Russia, U.S., and Ukraine Plan Abu Dhabi Security Talks as Moscow Stresses Territorial Demands 
Trump Administration Weighs Tougher Sanctions on Cuba Including Possible Oil Blockade 
Haiti Transitional Council Pushes to Remove Prime Minister Despite U.S. Warnings 
Japan Snap Election Sparks Bond Yield Surge as Parties Clash Over Fiscal and Monetary Policy 
Trump Explains Bruised Hand, Cites High Aspirin Intake During Davos Trip 
Trump Pushes Back on 401(k) Homebuyer Plan Amid Housing Affordability Debate 
Trump Launches U.S.-Led Board of Peace to Oversee Gaza Ceasefire and Expand Global Role 
New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District 
Pentagon Signals Reduced U.S. Role in Deterring North Korea as South Korea Takes Lead 
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok Meets U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Advance Trade and Security Talks 
Even as the Trumps are no longer at the White House, more details about them begin to emerge such as the supposed rift between now-former first lady Melania Trump and her stepdaughter Ivanka Trump. Melania’s former aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff reveals another detail that may have already added to the tension between the two women from her time at the White House.
Speaking on the Mooch FM podcast, Wolkoff shared that even with Melania being the first lady, it seemed that no one in the Trump White House took her as seriously as expected. Wolkoff noted how no one in the White House expected that she would be able to do something that had an impact.
Regarding the rift between Melania and Ivanka, the author of the tell-all memoir about her friendship with Mrs. Trump titled “Melania & Me,” revealed how she had to give up her adviser salary in order to hire two more people to serve under the now-former first lady. This was, because, as Wolkoff revealed, most of the budget allotted for the first lady went to Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who also served as an adviser to Donald Trump.
“I’m realizing Melania didn’t have a budget and didn’t really have any staff,” shared Wolkoff, noting a conversation she had with Trump’s then-deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh. “It was me interviewing everyone because Ivanka and Jared had used all of the budgets, all of the titles. Melania was left with a handful of titles and salaries that wouldn’t enable us to hire anyone with experience. So I gave up the original salary because I needed to hire two other people in order to be there and help set up the East Wing.”
Last week, the former first lady officially announced the opening of her post-White House office on Twitter. Melania retweeted the post on her personal account, marking the first time she returned to social media since her final address as first lady. Melania’s office is reportedly at Palm Beach, Florida, and will serve as an extension of her Be Best initiative that focuses on the overall well-being of children. She is set to bring back the staff that worked for her during her time at the White House.
