MELANIA TRUMP REVEALS DONALD TRUMP ASKED FOR HER NUMBER

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The Kit Kat Klub Encounter

Former First Lady Melania Trump shared the full story of how she met Donald Trump in her 2024 self titled memoir Melania. The encounter took place on a Friday evening in September 1998 at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City during Fashion Week. Melania was 28 years old at the time and had been invited to the party by a friend whose boyfriend was hosting the event. Donald Trump, then 52, arrived at the party with an attractive blonde woman as his date.

Despite being accompanied by someone else, Trump made his way over to Melania when his date briefly stepped away. He introduced himself and asked for her phone number. Melania declined. In her memoir, she wrote that she politely turned down his request and that he was a little surprised by the rejection. Instead of giving him her number, she flipped the script and asked for his. Trump agreed to hand over his business card but only on the condition that she promised to call him.

Why Melania Played It Smart

Melania has explained in multiple interviews over the years that her decision to take his number instead of giving hers was intentional. In a 2016 interview with Harper's Bazaar, she said the move was about maintaining control of the situation. She wanted to see what kind of number he would give her. If he gave her his office number, she would know he was not serious. If he gave her every number he had, she would know he was genuinely interested. Trump gave her all of his numbers, and Melania called him back.

At the time of their meeting, Trump had already been married and divorced twice. His first marriage to Ivana Trump ended in 1990, and his second marriage to Marla Maples ended in 1999. Melania was a Slovenian born model who had been working in the fashion industry in New York. Their first official date followed shortly after the Kit Kat Klub encounter.

From First Date to the White House

The relationship moved forward steadily from there. Donald and Melania married in January 2005 at a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. Their son Barron Trump was born in March 2006. The couple went on to become one of the most high profile pairs in American politics when Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, making Melania the First Lady of the United States.

The Memoir Adds New Details

While the broad strokes of their meeting have been public for years, the memoir Melania added new details and personal reflections that had not been shared before. Melania described the atmosphere of the party, her initial impression of Trump, and the thought process behind her decision to ask for his number. The book also covers her time in the White House, her fashion career, and her perspective on the public scrutiny that came with being married to one of the most polarizing figures in modern politics. The memoir was released in October 2024 and generated significant media attention.