Trump Only 'Fears' Wife Melania, Conway Reveals

Former President Donald Trump only fears his wife Melania, a former White House senior counselor said in her testimony.

The claim was made by Kellyanne Conway, a pollster who helped Trump get elected as president in 2016. The testimony was part of the documents released Monday by the House Select Committee investigating the devastating riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

"I texted Melania Trump that day, though, for sure," Conway told the panel in a Nov. 28 interview when asked whether she tried contacting Trump during the riot. "I texted her, please — something to the effect of, you know, please talk to him, because I know he listens to her. He reserves — he listens to many of us, but he reserves fear for one person, Melania Trump."

In her testimony, Conway also noted that Melania did not respond immediately to her text. However, when she did receive a response, Melania said she was finished "cataloging things" and "saw what was going on" at the Capitol.

On Jan. 11, 2021, five days after the riot, CNN published a report saying Melania had been doing a photo shoot "of rugs and other items in the Executive Residence and the East Wing" when a mob of rioters breached the Capitol.

Melania corroborated the story in July 2022 to Fox News, arguing that it was part of her official duties to take archival photos "of the White House's historic rooms." Melania also said she "would have immediately denounced the violence" had she been informed of the events taking place at the Capitol.

"Naturally, I would have immediately denounced the violence that occurred at the Capitol Building," she said in the interview.

The interview was a response to accusations made by Trump's former press secretary Stephanie Grisham who said Melania shot down requests to condemn the violence.

"Do you want to tweet that peaceful protests are the right of every American, but there is no place for lawlessness & violence?" a text message shared by Grisham to a person named "MT" read.

"No," the person replied.

Melania eventually issued a statement about the Capitol riot where she mourned the lives lost in the riot, including both the rioters and the Capitol police officers. The statement was later taken down from the White House's website.