Former President Donald Trump reportedly claimed to friends that he was romantically involved with his 28-year-old White House assistant, according to author Michael Wolff. In a draft of a book section shared with Jeffrey Epstein, Wolff identified Madeleine Westerhout as the assistant. However, Westerhout denied these allegations as “absurd” and disconnected from reality. The draft highlighted Trump’s choice to spend the 2018 Christmas holiday at the White House instead of his Florida resort, Mar A Lago.
Despite First Lady Melania Trump being in Florida, she briefly returned to Washington, D.C., for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The draft mentioned Trump’s interaction with Westerhout, stating that she brought him paperwork while finding him in his underwear. Wolff also noted Trump’s interest in Westerhout, describing his behavior as inappropriate.
Westerhout, a long-time member of Trump’s staff, refuted the claims through her lawyer, calling them defamatory and untrue. In her book “Off the Record,” Westerhout discussed her dismissal from the White House staff for indiscreet comments about the President’s family but made no mention of a romantic relationship. Trump dismissed the accusations as a distraction orchestrated by Democrats, labeling the released documents as a “hoax.”
During the government shutdown in 2018, Trump stated he remained at the White House alone, awaiting Democrats to negotiate border security funding. Melania’s return from Mar a Lago included a phone call with children tracking Santa’s flight, during which Trump’s comment about Santa’s existence angered Melania. The situation was detailed in Wolff’s book, portraying Melania as displeased with Trump’s interaction with children.
Lastly, Trump’s reaction to the situation was shared on social media platform Truth Social, accusing Democrats of creating a diversion with the released files. The controversy surrounding Trump’s alleged relationship with his assistant continues to attract attention amidst political dynamics.