Melania Trump outsourced writing her own 'thank you' notes to the White House residence staff
(CNN)First lady Melania Trump did not write her own "thank you" notes to the White House residence staff who have cared for her and her family for the last four years, according to two sources with knowledge of the notes and Trump's handling of them.
The
80 or so staff who received the type written notes were under the
assumption the first lady had written them herself. Instead, Trump
tasked a lower-level East Wing staffer with writing them "in her voice,"
and she signed her name.
Several
sources familiar with Trump's activities, or lack thereof in recent
weeks, have described the first lady as being "checked out," that she
"just wants to go home," and is "not sad to be leaving" Washington and
the White House.
One
of the sources discussing the "thank you" notes with CNN said it is
customary for first ladies -- and occasionally presidents as well -- to
write cards or short letters of gratitude to members of household staff,
especially the ones whom they get to know extremely well. Much of the
correspondence includes personal anecdotes and the letters become
"cherished keepsakes" for the residence staff, says the source.
The
butlers, cooks, housekeepers, ushers and maintenance workers do not
typically turn over with each administration and many have been working
at the White House for a decade or more.
Melania Trump will be exiting the White House with the lowest favorability rating of her tenure as first lady, according to a new CNN poll.
At
47%, more people have an unfavorable view of the first lady now than at
any point since CNN first asked about views of her in February 2016.
The poll, conducted by SSRS for CNN, puts Trump's favorable rating at
42%, with 12% of those asked answering they are unsure of their feelings
about the first lady.
Trump's
highest favorable rating was in May 2018 at 57% according to a CNN poll
taken at the time, which came on the heels of the first state dinner
and Trump's attendance at the Texas funeral of the late first lady
Barbara Bush. The first lady went to the funeral without President
Donald Trump.
The
first lady has 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 Georgia political rally, the annual Toys for Tots gift
event and the story-reading at Children's Hospital.
Events
with her involving the White House Christmas decorations were not open
to the press. CNN was also first to report Melania Trump has overseeing
the packing and shipping of her belongings for the family's departure
from the White House for the two months
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