Melania Trump has publicly supported her husband, hasn't called for divorce | Fact check
The claim: Melania Trump said she wants a divorce
An Oct. 14 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims former First Lady Melania Trump made an announcement about her marriage to former President Donald Trump.
“Breaking News,” reads the start of the post. “October surprise. Melania Trump declares that she wants a divorce.”
It was shared more than 100 times in three days.
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Our rating: False
Melania Trump has not made any public statements that support the claim, and a spokesperson for Donald Trump said the claim is false. The former first lady has reiterated her support for her husband in numerous interviews in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Melania Trump said she, husband are ready for second term
The claim is “totally false,” Donald Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told USA TODAY.
There are no reports from credible news outlets supporting the claim that Melania Trump expressed a desire for a divorce.
There are also no posts supporting the statement on Melania Trump’s Instagram, Facebook or X accounts. On the contrary, the former first lady has made and shared various posts that compliment her husband while promoting her memoir, "Melania."
She described an "undeniable spark" between them, for example, in an Oct. 5 video that reminisced about their wedding.
She also reposted an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo in which she said both she and her husband are “ready” to serve a second term, an Oct. 8 roundtable interview in which she discussed continuing her “Be Best” initiative if her husband is re-elected and an Oct. 16 Fox News article in which she remarked on Donald Trump's “commitment to service.”
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USA TODAY previously debunked a claim that Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has been divorced twice.
USA TODAY reached out to Melania Trump and the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
Lead Stories, PolitiFact and Reuters also debunked versions of the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
Karoline Leavitt, Oct. 16, Email exchange with USA TODAY
Melania Trump, accessed Oct. 16, Facebook page
Melania Trump, accessed Oct. 16, Instagram account
Melania Trump, accessed Oct. 16, X account
The Five, Oct. 8, X post
Fox Business, Oct. 7, Melania Trump to Maria Bartiromo: ‘I believe in individual freedom’
Melania Trump, Oct. 5, X post
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, Melania Trump didn't say she wants to divorce Donald | Fact check