Melania Trump stands next to Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Fl. on March 19, 2024.Photo:GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) and former First Lady Melania Trump arrive to vote in Florida’s primary election at a polling station at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 19, 2024.

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Melania Trumpsays she’s “standing on my own two feet” as she prepares to play the role of president’s wife for four more years.

“I feel I was always me the first time as well, I just feel that people didn’t accept me, maybe. They didn’t understand me the way maybe they do now,” Melania, 54, said in the interview, which aired onFox & Friendson Monday, Jan. 13. “I didn’t have much support.”

Melania, who also discussed her upcoming Amazon documentary, added, “Maybe some people, they see me as just the wife of the president.”

“But I’m standing on my own two feet, independent,” she asserted. “I have my own thoughts, I have my own yes and no. I don’t always agree what my husband is saying or doing, and that’s OK.”

Donald and Melania Trump attend an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump look on during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress.

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The soon-to-be first lady also said that she is comfortable telling her husband when she disagrees with him, adding that she gives him advice based on her perspective.

“Sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn’t,” she said. “And that’s okay.”

Just weeks after Donaldsecured the presidencyin the November 2024 election, and as he was namedTime’s 2024 Person of the Year, the president-elect told the magazine that Melania will be “active when she needs to be” during his second term.

As he explained at the time, Melania — whom he felt “became very active towards the end” of his first term — will be staying in the White House.

“No, she’ll be — she’ll be active, when she needs to be, when she needs to be.”

Donald and Melania Trump talk during the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on Oct. 17, 2024.Michael M. Santiago/Getty

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner

Michael M. Santiago/Getty

During her Monday interview withFox & Friends, Melania was asked where she plans to spend most of her time during the next four years. The incoming first lady — who has acollege-aged son in New York Cityand amansion in Palm Beach, Fla.— said that she’ll be “in the White House.”

“And when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I’ll be in Palm Beach. But my first priority is to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife,” she said. “And once we are in on Jan. 20, you serve the country.”

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Donald will be sworn in on Monday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol, with inauguration events set to take place in Washington, D.C., through the weekend leading up to the ceremony.

source: people.com