His intention is to “keep ‘Be Best'”, said one of the sources, Trump’s vaguely defined initiative aimed at helping children. During his time at the White House, “Be Best” existed as a broad three-pillar initiative, consisting of child health and well-being, online safety and bullying prevention on social networks and the impact of the opioid crisis on children.
Trump often did little to help clarify or expand his platform during his time at the White House, often spending weeks between public events focused on Be Best. The East Wing policy office did not have a robust staff, it was sometimes vacant, and at most it had a dedicated full-time employee in the East Wing.
Trump’s post-White House office will consist of three of his White House employees, the sources confirmed to CNN. Hayley D’Antuono served for four years as chief operating officer and travel supervisor for the former first lady, and is now Trump’s chief of staff.
Mary “Casey” Finzer was a low-level team assistant in the East Wing office, and one of her tasks included keeping stock in Trump’s “gift cabinet”, according to a source, where gift 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 post-White House team.
Marcia Kelly, who served as Trump’s unpaid senior adviser when she was in the White House, is also on board for the post-White House office, although it is unclear whether she will now receive a salary.
CNN sought out a representative for Melania Trump and did not receive an immediate response.
Both sources indicate that Trump’s office is now operating outside former President Donald Trump’s private club, Mar-a-Lago, which is also where the first family is living, and team members sometimes work remotely. Melania Trump is looking for a separate office in the Palm Beach area.
At 47%, more people have an unfavorable view of the First Lady now than at any time since CNN first asked about her opinions in February 2016. The survey, conducted by SSRS for CNN, places the assessment Trump’s favor at 42%, with 12% of those responding to questions unsure of their feelings towards the first lady.
Trump’s most favorable rating was in May 2018, at 57%, according to a CNN poll conducted at the time, which followed the first state dinner and Trump’s attendance at the funeral in Texas of the late First Lady Barbara Bush. Trump went to the funeral without her husband.