Former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham stated that the upcoming hush money trial has left former President Donald Trump feeling quite concerned, particularly due to the involvement of former First Lady Melania Trump.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against Trump in 2021, accusing him of making a payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment was allegedly made to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing her claims of an affair with the former president, which Trump has consistently denied.
Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, continues to assert his innocence in the case, just as he has done with each of the criminal charges brought against him. He entered a plea of not guilty to all allegations and has accused Bragg of singling him out for political motives.
The trial is scheduled to commence on Monday, April 15th, which will mark a significant moment as it will be the first time the ex-president will face criminal charges.
During a recent interview on CNN, Grisham, who held various positions in the Trump White House, including press secretary and chief of staff to Melania Trump, offered insights into how the former first lady might be coping with the trial.
“I imagine she’s urging him to put an end to this. I imagine she’s pressing him to take the stand and defend himself because this situation is extremely embarrassing for her. It’s a humiliating experience, and I can assure you that she’s not pleased at the moment, which is causing him considerable concern,” she expressed.
Newsweek contacted Trump’s campaign through email and reached out to Grisham via Instagram message to seek their comments.
According to Grisham, although the trial may not hold significant legal implications, the charges brought against him are of utmost personal importance.
When the allegations were made public, she expressed her concern about the impact they would have on him, his family, and especially his wife Melania.
According to Grisham, the First Lady didn’t take the situation lightly. They both attended the State of the Union separately, as she didn’t want to be seen as standing by her man like Hillary Clinton. Grisham emphasized that the First Lady is a strong and independent woman.
In recent years, Grisham has grown more and more critical of her former boss. This shift in her perspective can be attributed to the events of January 6, 2021. On that day, a group of Trump supporters engaged in a violent protest at the United States Capitol building, in response to the 2020 election results. It was on this very day that Grisham decided to resign from her position as Melania’s chief of staff.
In January, she voiced her concern about the potential consequences for democracy if Trump were to serve a second term, indicating a shift in her perspective on the matter.
“It is crucial for individuals like me, both those who were in my position before and those who currently find themselves in a similar situation, to comprehend the potential outcomes of another Trump presidency,” Grisham expressed during her appearance on CNN. “Democracy entails the liberty to freely express oneself and take action. However, I believe that under Trump’s leadership, this freedom will be constrained. People may only exercise their freedom of speech if it entails speaking positively about him.”