Stephanie Grisham.Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Stephanie Grisham’sI’ll Take Your Questions Now(an apparent reference to how she controversially chose not to give any televised press briefings) will be published on Oct. 5.
Grisham was the first lady’s communications director and chief of staff and had also served as one of PresidentDonald Trump’s press secretaries. But sheresignedwithin hours of the Capitol being breached.
Grisham now describes Mrs. Trump like “the doomed French queen” Marie Antoinette: “Dismissive. Defeated. Detached.”
According to her book,Politicoreports, Grisham sent Mrs. Trump a text message within minutes of rioters grappling with Capitol police officers after breaking through barricades erected outside the building.
“Do you want to tweet that peaceful protests are the right of every American, but there is no place for lawlessness and violence?” Grisham asked the first lady, according toPolitico.
Mrs. Trump — who was reportedly overseeinga photo shootthat day — replied within a minute with a short and simple answer: “No.”
Stephanie Grisham (left) and Melania Trump.Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Shutterstock; Shutterstock
Elsewhere in Grisham’s book, according toPolitico, she writes that she asked the first lady if she should reach out to Dr.Jill Bidenand the incoming team to help ease the transition between the administrations.
Mrs. Trump responded that Grisham should wait and “see what the West Wing does,” as she — like President Trump — did not believe the election had been legitimate, despite no evidence of widespread fraud.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Mrs. Trump’s office said of Grisham’s book: “The intent behind this book is obvious. It is an attempt to redeem herself after a poor performance as Press Secretary, failed personal relationships, and unprofessional behavior in the White House. Through mistruth and betrayal, she seeks to gain relevance and money at the expense of Mrs. Trump.”
A source told PEOPLE of Grisham: “As usual, she doesn’t tell the whole story. She is publishing a text with her own twist and mistruths.”
Grisham’s memoir is notable for her access: She was a Trump aide dating back to his 2016 campaign. In 2019, she was named both the White House’s press secretary and communications director in addition to continuing in her role as communications director for the first lady.
In early 2020, shereturned to the East Wingas Mrs. Trump’s chief of staff and spokeswoman.
A source close to the project told PEOPLE recently that Grisham’s book — subtitled “What I Saw in the Trump White House” — includes “a lot of stuff that has never been heard before.”
“She knows where all the bodies are buried and she has a shovel,” this source said, calling the book “a memoir of her time in the White House in the unusual position of being the only person to serve both the president and the first lady at the same time.”
source: people.com
