Former First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, expressed on Wednesday (October 2) that the United States and the world as a whole are more divided than ever before, stating “we are facing more dangers.”
In an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity” program, Melania was asked about the challenges that former President Trump faces in this election compared to his previous two campaigns.
The former First Lady told host Sean Hannity, “We are facing more dangers, especially as we see what is happening around the world, the threats we are facing, and my husband, and everything he has been through in the past few months.”
Melania was referring to the two assassination attempts against Trump: one on July 13, where he was attacked and suffered a minor injury to his right ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania; and another on September 15, when the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election faced a gunman threat at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, but fortunately escaped unharmed.
Additionally, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) informed the former president of an alleged assassination threat from Iran. A criminal indictment released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in early August revealed that a Pakistani citizen with ties to the Iranian government attempted to assassinate American officials. Media outlets including CNN reported that one of the intended targets of these assassination attempts was Trump.
Regarding the serious political divisions currently existing in the United States, Melania emphasized the importance of listening to and respecting differing opinions in her interview on Wednesday.
“I think we need to have – we have different views, we have different beliefs. We need to respect freedom of speech and individuality,” the former First Lady said. “I think it’s very important to have opinions heard, to have very, very straightforward communication, and it’s important to share ideas through debate. Because I think with that, we can achieve innovation and success in this country.”
Melania also mentioned that some Americans are now trying to “cancel” those who have differing opinions on certain issues, which she finds unsettling.
The former White House hostess also discussed her initial reaction when Trump first told her he would run for president in 2016. She told Hannity that she had said to Trump at the time, “You know, this won’t be pleasant.” However, she continued by saying, “But I knew he was dedicated, and I knew what he would have to face.”