What would happen if Donald and Melania Trump got a divorce?
Pairs of political leaders come under scrutiny and are often surrounded by rumors about their personal lives. Which probably makes the marriage between Donald and Melania Trump rather stressful. The White House has never yet witnessed a couple's divorce during a presidential term, and much of the details of a possible separation would be unprecedented and up to date with the couple. Here's what could happen if Donald and Melania Trump get a divorce.
The couple were once again the subject of persistent speculation when Melania finally moved to the White House in June 2018.
Although she insisted her son had to finish his school year in New York City, the late move of America's First Lady, more than a year after Donald Trump's inauguration, had sparked rumors about the couple.
The October 2016 publication by the Washington Post of a tape on which Donald Trump can be heard claiming that, thanks to his fame, he can "grab [women] by the ch ---", as well as the connection later revealed , linking Donald Trump to secret cash payments made to pornstar Stormy Daniels, which Michael Cohen testified to were made under the direction of Donald Trump, have sparked persistent rumors about the couple's marriage situation.
The couple have fueled speculation over marital issues as Melania appears to be moving away from Donald Trump, dodging trips, arriving separately at the State of the Union speech, and avoiding any public mention of their wedding anniversary.
Donald Trump is a firm believer in marriage contracts, and his past divorce proceedings may contain hints of his private deal with Melania.
Donald Trump is no stranger to marriage contracts, given his wealth, three marriages and two divorces.
"It's a harsh, painful, and ugly tool," Donald Trump said of marriage contracts, which set out pre-determined terms and benefits of a divorce. "Believe me, there's nothing fun about it. But there comes a time when you have to say, 'Honey, I find you beautiful, and I care deeply about you, but if things don't work out. , this is what you can get '. "
Contracts can include money, houses, or anything a future spouse deems valuable enough to protect. They can also be changed during a marriage to match the growing wealth of your spouse or family, and they often remain private until the terms of the contract are settled in a divorce.
Donald Trump's marriage contract with his second wife, Marla Maples, was largely aimed at avoiding a complex public battle like the one he experienced during his first divorce.
A copy of his prenuptial agreement with Marla Maples, obtained by Vanity Fair magazine, shows Donald Trump is not afraid to draw tough lines in divorce cases, including cutting child support payments if the child gets a employment or joining the military, and forbid his ex-wife to publish details of their marriage.
Melania Trump arguably honored the personal wishes of Donald Trump, who reportedly told celebrity columnist Liz Smith that the negotiations went well, saying: "The good thing is that she agrees all of this. She knows I absolutely have to. "
The terms of the divorce were likely changed before Melania Trump entered the White House, according to an expert in this type of case.
The White House has been an unexpected path for the couple's life together and that surely means that there have been renegotiations of their initial marriage contract, especially from Melania Trump's side.
Jacqueline Newman, Managing Partner and Divorce Litigation Specialist at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, said Melania Trump likely "upped the game" when she was on the verge of becoming First Lady due to the significant changes she was making. she was going to live. “Whatever amount she was to receive, I imagine she is going to want a higher amount,” Jacqueline Newman said. "If they were to divorce now or after being president, there would be security details. There would be all kinds of things that would be very different for her as a former First Lady, rather than just simple. wife of Donald Trump. "
The couple's only son, Barron, could also be included in the deal.
Since Barron is only 13 years old, any divorce deal would have a part regarding the teenager's living conditions while he is under 21. Agreements are also said to be made to distribute custody to his parents and guarantee Barron financial resources before he comes of age.
In his divorce from Ivana, Donald Trump was also ordered to pay around 650,000 dollars per year (578,000 euros) in alimony to the couple's three children, which corresponds to what they had agreed in their marriage contract, according to the New York Times.
The divorce agreement between Donald Trump and Marla Maples stipulated that he would pay alimony of 100,000 dollars (89,000 euros) to Tiffany, the daughter of Marla Maples, until her 21st birthday. The deal also said payments would cease if she got a full-time job, enlisted in the military, or joined the United States Peace Corps - a body of Americans to promote peace, friendship and development.
History suggests there may be a replacement First Lady.
Since the First Lady is not an official position, a president can assign the role to another person, even if they are not their partner. Former single and widowed presidents chose their nieces and daughters.
Donald Trump's choice for a replacement First Lady would likely be his eldest daughter, Ivanka, a senior adviser to the administration and present at many notable official events, sometimes confusing some. At the G20 conference in 2019, Ivanka was invited to appear alongside world leaders.
The penthouse the couple share at Trump Tower is said to be on hold.
Donald Trump would likely be responsible for providing accommodation for Melania and Barron, assuming they would leave the White House after a divorce.
Since the First Lady has been so insistent that Barron finish his school year before moving to the White House, she could say the same to stay in Washington until he can easily return to his school in New York.
The first lady also has some assets that could be affected by a deal. Melania bought a Trump Tower apartment for $ 1.49 million ($ 1.32 million) in January 2016, but details are still unknown.
Even after the official end of their marriage, Melania Trump should probably remain silent about her life with Donald Trump, especially regarding their life in Washington.
Vanity Fair reported that the confidentiality agreement signed by Marla Maples prohibited her from posting "diaries, memoirs, letters, stories, photographs, interviews, articles, essays, reviews, descriptions or representations of any kind, with or without fiction, concerning (or which appear to concern) the details of the marriage of the two parties. "
Of any violation, it read: "Donald Trump will suffer irreparable damage and damage if broken."
As she is aware of more sensitive events than Donald Trump's other wives, Melania is unlikely to join former White House aides who spoke after leaving the administration.
