Former President Donald Trump was dealt a blow Friday when Judge Arthur Engoron ordered that he and his company to pay $354 million in fines, banned him from seeking loans and made it impossible for him to serve as the officer or director of any corporation in the state of New York.
It seems like a bleak situation. Can Trump’s wife, Melania, make it brighter?
Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers told Newsweek that the former first lady could step up and serve as director or officer to run businesses instead of Trump in the wake of the civil fraud trial decision.
“Melania or Ivanka can fill those roles,” she said, also referring to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, who already has an executive title in the Trump Organization. CBS News reported that Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. – also executives at the company – faced penalties as well, along with two former executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney.
Newsweek said that Melania could “save” her husband’s real estate empire if she does step in to run the companies. According to the White House Historical Association, Melania, a native of Slovenia, studied design before embarking on a successful modeling career. As first lady, she advocated for children and started the BE BEST campaign for healthy living for children. She also worked on restoration projects at the White House.
Per Engoron’s order, Trump is barred from conducting business in New York for three years. In a Friday Truth Social post, he said “Crooked and Corrupt Judge Arthur Engoron ignored his loss at the Appellate Division, and came up with an outrageous $355 Million Dollar fine against me.”
“Legal experts previously assessed that the former president would be able to hold on to his properties even if barred from conducting business by transferring his company to his family members not included,” in the civil fraud case, which was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, said Newsweek.
Last October, Melania's former chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, told Newsweek that Melania would have demands for Trump if he enlisted her to help save his businesses.
“I just don't know that she would want to take on that much responsibility unless she was guaranteed some major control or power,” she said. Late last month, Grisham said in an interview that Melania was pressuring Trump to defend himself against allegations in another case – the E. Jean Carroll defamation case. A jury verdict in that case called for Trump to pay $83 million.
Previously, Audacy reported that Melania had been staying out of the public eye as her husband started up his campaign to be the 2024 GOP presidential candidate. Since then, she appeared at an event at the National Archives to speak on immigration and attended a gala this month. This week Melania’s name was in the news again due to a Valentine’s Day fundraising message, The Guardian reported.
“Even after every single indictment, arrest and witch hunt, you never left my side,” it said. Despite his legal troubles, Trump remains popular and is far and away the frontrunner to be the GOP candidate in November, per FiveThirtyEight.
Newsweek reached out to Melania’s representatives Friday, said the outlet.