Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz: ‘Melania Trump Has Been An Outstanding First Lady — Liberal Media Have Treated Her Unfairly’
Former Utah Rep. and now Fox News contributor, Jason Chaffetz, slammed the mainstream media’s coverage of First Lady Melania Trump over the past for years.
In an editorial, Chaffetz lamented the “unfair media coverage” for Mrs. Trump compared to other First Ladies despite her own achievements and quiet work in the White House — launching the successful anti-bullying campaign “Be Best”— conducting important outreach abroad, while raising a son under the “overwhelmingly hostile press” all without missteps.
Jason Chaffetz: Melania Trump has been an outstanding first lady — liberal media have treated her unfairlyhttps://t.co/BSLDzhBVVi
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) December 19, 2020
“In her four years of outstanding service as America’s first lady, Melania Trump could never dream of receiving the fawning media coverage now being showered upon Jill Biden, who will become our next first lady Jan. 20 unless President Trump succeeds in overturning the Electoral College vote selecting Joe Biden as president,” Chaffetz wrote.
“Mrs. Trump deserves to be recognized as an exceptional first lady,” he added, noting how with “little fanfare and tremendous pushback” from some of the most vocal segments of society, she was able to accomplish all that she did.
“Overwhelmingly hostile” press
Chaffetz said it was particularly difficult to raise a son under negative public scrutiny.
“Mrs. Trump has had to raise a teenage son under pressure and in the spotlight. But the Trump family in particular has faced heightened criticism and scrutiny from an overwhelmingly hostile press that has almost always sought the negative side of every story,” he noted.
“I find it sad that an unscrupulous liberal media treated Mrs. Trump so unfairly compared to their obsequious coverage of former first lady Michelle Obama and now Jill Biden. Even traditionally nonpolitical outlets ignored Mrs. Trump and dismissed her,” the former Utah lawmaker said.
The retired politician who chaired the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2015 until 2017, also noted the glaring indifference from the mostly-left leaning media on covering Mrs. Trump to the point of almost zero coverage of Mrs. Trump’s wardrobe — despite her former career as a fashion model — while such stories hit the headlines in the past.
He also noted how Mrs. Trump’s campaigns together with the “good public policy” of President Donald Trump, pushed a drop in drug overdose deaths and an increase in life expectancy among children and teens.
“Despite her successful career as a fashion model, we didn’t get the barrage of stories about Mrs. Trump’s wardrobe choices that bombarded us when Michelle Obama was first lady. Many didn’t miss such coverage, but the discrepancy is telling,”Chaffetz said.
“In her travels at home and across the globe, Mrs. Trump has demonstrated compassion, kindness and diplomacy. She has … made a positive impression on foreign leaders, and exemplified beauty and grace,” he added.
Missed opportunity
Meanwhile, in his editorial posted at Fox News, Chaffetz said it was a “missed opportunity” for the media not to be able to share the beautiful story of America’s first immigrant First Lady — all because of politics.
“The unfair and biased coverage of Melania Trump is a missed opportunity. Having a first lady who is herself an immigrant, who speaks five languages, and who comes from far outside the elite circles of government is a story that exemplifies the American experiment,” the Utah representative from 2009-2017 added.
“Had this first lady been the wife of a Democratic president, the media would have been clamoring to tell her story and to get her commentary on an array of issues.”
Chaffetz added: “Throughout the past four years, Melania Trump has never been given the same benefit of the doubt enjoyed by previous first ladies. The mocking, cajoling, and lack of respect by the left-wing media and opponents of the president has been shameful and undeserving.”
Nonetheless, he said Mrs. Trump leaves behind a “legacy as a classy and compassionate first lady” who was deserving of the respect owed the office.