Her intent is to uphold “Be Best,” one source said, Trump’s loosely defined initiative to help children. During her time in the White House, ‘Be Best’ existed as a broad three-pillar initiative consisting of the health and well-being of children, online safety and the prevention of bullying on social media and the impact of the opioid crisis. on children.
Trump has often done little to brighten or expand her platform during her time in the White House, and it regularly goes weeks between the best events for Be Best-focused. The East Wing policy office was not well staffed, sometimes vacant, and had at most one full-time, dedicated East Wing employee.
Trump’s White House office will consist of three of her White House staffers, the sources confirmed to CNN. Hayley D’Antuono served as director of the former first lady and travel overseer for four years, and is now Trump’s chief of staff.
Mary “Casey” Finzer was a low-level staff assistant in the East Wing office, and one of her tasks was to keep stock of Trump’s ‘gift box’, according to a source, where gifted items were kept and wrapped to be distributed at school or hospital events and for travel. Finzer is now part of the operational and administrative side of Trump’s team after the White House.
Marcia Kelly, who served as Trump’s unpaid senior adviser when she was in the White House, also remains on board for the post-White House office, although it is unclear whether she will receive a salary now.
CNN reached out to a representative for Melania Trump and did not immediately respond.
Both sources indicate that Trump’s office is currently operating from former President Donald Trump’s private club, Mar-a-Lago, where the former first family also lives, and staff members sometimes work remotely. Melania Trump is looking for separate office space in the Palm Beach area.
With 47%, more people now have an unfavorable view of the first lady than at any point since CNN first asked about her view in February 2016. The poll, which SSRS conducted for CNN, sets Trump’s favorable rating 42%, with 12% of people asked to answer, are unsure about their feelings about the first lady.
Trump’s highest favorable rating was at 57% in May 2018, according to a then-CNN poll that came on the heels of the first state dinner and Trump’s attendance at the funeral of late First Lady Barbara Bush. Trump is without her husband after the funeral.