Melania Recalls Meeting Trump and Then ‘Stealing Him’

Melania Trump recently shared the story of how she and Donald Trump first crossed paths during a New York Fashion Week party in 1998, a moment that would lead to one of the most talked-about relationships in modern pop culture.

In her newly released memoir, Melania reveals how Donald, who was 52 at the time, slipped away from his glamorous blonde date to ask for her number. Then 28, Melania turned down his request but agreed to take his business card after a conversation about her family in Slovenia.

A few weeks later, the future First Lady decided to reach out to the real estate mogul, and the two went on their first date. By 2005, they were married, and Melania became Donald’s third wife.

In her book, Melania reflects on their “meet-cute” at Manhattan’s iconic Kit Kat Club. She recalls feeling “giddy with joy” after their first meeting, where she says she felt an “instant connection” with Donald. “I think he appreciated that I had knowledge and experience under my belt,” she writes, hinting that perhaps Donald saw her as someone with whom he could share deeper conversations.

Interestingly, Melania almost didn’t attend the party, as she was tired from a trip to Paris but ultimately couldn’t resist the allure of Fashion Week glamour. She remembers their brief but impactful exchange when Donald introduced himself while still with his date: “Hi, I’m Donald Trump. Nice to meet you.” Though she knew of him, Melania admits she didn’t know much about his celebrity status at the time.

Their initial spark lingered even after she left for a photoshoot in the Caribbean, with Melania writing about the sense of anticipation she felt when thinking about contacting him upon her return. When she finally called, Donald playfully chided her: “Why didn’t you call sooner? I was thinking about you.”

Their first official date took them out of the city to visit a golf club Donald was considering buying in Bedford, New York. “He was so easy to talk to and genuinely interested in everything,” she shares.

And from that fateful Fashion Week party to the White House, the rest, as they say, is history.