A CNN reporter openly accused first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday of using an event celebrating the release of hostages to promote her documentary, though the freed hostages later thanked her.
The reporter, Betsy Klein, asked Melania Trump why she felt it was “appropriate” to host a celebration for freed Israeli hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel to promote her new documentary, “Melania.” The first lady stated that the event had nothing to do with her documentary, but rather the Siegels wanted to meet with Melania to thank her for helping to secure their release.
“Why do you feel it is appropriate to use an official White House event to promote your documentary?” Klein asked.
“This is not a promotion. We are here celebrating the release of the hostages of Aviva and Keith,” Melania said. “They were in Washington, D.C., and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs. And that’s why we are here. It has nothing to do with promotion.” (RELATED: ‘Melania’ Earns $8 Million Opening Weeknd, Marking Best Documentary Debut In Over 10 Years)
WATCH:
A scene in the documentary showed Melania meeting with Aviva while her husband was still in captivity in January 2025, shortly after her release. She presented Melania with two of her husband’s books, which the first lady then passed on to her husband to raise awareness of Keith’s ongoing captivity.
Aviva was held hostage for 51 days after being captured by Hamas on Oct, 7, 2023, while Keith was held for 434 days, according to The Jerusalem Post. Keith was freed one month after Aviva’s meeting with Melania.
During an interview on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday, Aviva and Keith expressed their gratitude to Melania and credited her for their freedom.
“Well, you know, having a hostage in Gaza, I was just thinking about everything that I could maybe do to put pressure on anybody that will listen to me and [Melania] opened her heart and she listened to me,” Aviva said. “And from that minute, I knew that she would go to her husband, President Trump ,and talk about Keith and I, and that’s exactly what happened. And for me it was like a start of believing that it’s going to happen she gave me lots of faith and first of all, she’s just lovely and she opened her heart and she really made me feel welcomed and listened to everything that I said. And I want to thank her, and Keith wants to thank her.”
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Melania recounted her meeting with Aviva during the meeting at the White House, stating that the freed hostage fought like a “warrior” to free her husband. Aviva told Melania that her meeting with the first lady last year gave her “hope” and that she could feel her heart with her.
“Aviva was a warrior. She is a warrior. She was fighting very hard for Keith, and I know he suffered a lot,” Melania said. “I’m happy to see you healthy and home with your children, your grandchildren, with your family.”
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