The 80 or so employees who received the written notes assumed that the First Lady had written them herself. Instead, Trump commissioned a lower-level official from the east wing to write them “in his voice,” and she signed his name.
Several sources familiar with Trump’s activities, or lack of them in recent weeks, have described the first lady as being “verified”, that she “just wants to go home” and “is not sad to leave” Washington and the White House .
One of the sources who discussed the “thank you” notes with CNN said that it is customary for first ladies – and occasionally presidents as well – to write thank you cards or short letters to members of the home team, especially those they address, know extremely well. . Much of the correspondence includes personal anecdotes and the letters become “precious memories” for the residence staff, says the source.
Butlers, cooks, housekeepers, housekeepers and maintenance workers typically do not change with each administration and many have worked at the White House for a decade or more.
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 at the time, which followed the first state dinner and Trump’s attendance at the funeral of the late First Lady Barbara Bush at Texas. The first lady attended the funeral without President Donald Trump.
The First Lady spent the weeks since the presidential election in relative silence, participating in only five public events since November 3, including the turkey pardon, the arrival of the White House Christmas tree, a political rally in Georgia, the present annual Toys for Tots event and reading stories at Children’s Hospital.
Events with her involving the White House’s Christmas decorations were not open to the press. CNN was also the first to report that Melania Trump oversaw the packing and transportation of her belongings for the family’s departure from the White House for two months.