An Associate Press article headlined “Trump defense of Melania Trump follows presidential pattern” quotes Dr. Katherine Jellison, Professor and Chair of History at Ohio University.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bill Clinton once wanted to punch a newspaper columnist in the nose for calling Hillary Clinton a “congenital liar.” Ronald Reagan complained about the “bum rap” Nancy Reagan got for buying White House china. George H.W. Bush defended Barbara Bush after female students objected to her as their commencement speaker because she dropped out of college to marry him.
There’s a long tradition of presidents defending their first ladies, and it’s now President Donald Trump’s turn….
Katherine Jellison, an Ohio University history professor who studies first ladies, said other presidents’ wives had experience in the political spotlight where everything is dissected, unlike Melania Trump, whose professional experience before the White House largely consisted of fashion runways, red carpets and motherhood.
“This kind of scrutiny that Melania Trump is encountering as first lady and follows every first lady is a new experience for her,” Jellison said. “And another difference is she’s married to a man who is quick to respond to anything he sees as a slight or a criticism. I guess that includes comments regarding his wife.”
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