Fox News accidentally mistook former President Donald Trump’s 27-year-old deputy communications chief for his wife, Melania.
The mistake occurred as Trump’s motorcade pulled up to the Miami courthouse this Tuesday so that the former president could plead not guilty to charges related to the classified documents scandal and indictment.
As the motorcade pulled up, Fox News’ John Roberts spotted communications chief Margo Martin but mistook her for Melania.
“We have some video that we want to play out here: Melania Trump entering the courthouse just a short time ago. There she is,” he said.
“Melania Trump arrives at Miami court,” the chyron meanwhile read.
Fox, that’s Margo Martin. Sometimes referred to as “fake Melania.” pic.twitter.com/nEHFeeIhlh
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 13, 2023
Shortly thereafter, Roberts issued a correction once he realized a mistake had been made.
“So we just want to clarify something, Byron. We thought that was Melania Trump who was arriving. Apparently, it was not Melania. A day like today with so many comings and goings, it’s easy from a distance to mistake two people,” he said.
Listen:
Minutes after reporting that Melania Trump had arrived at the Miami courthouse for her husband’s arraignment, Fox News anchor John Roberts issues a correction.
“It’s easy from a distance to mistake two people”
Roberts then reports it was actually Trump assistant Margo Martin. pic.twitter.com/Ya6rjk98OP
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 13, 2023
So where was Melania anyway? In New York, according to the Daily Mail.
As for Martin, who is she exactly?
“Martin has worked for Trump since his days in the White House and was the press secretary to call the final lid on his presidency on January 19, 2021,” Insider notes.
But there’s more.
“She may also be caught up in his latest legal troubles. … Martin was present at a July 2021 meeting where prosecutors allege Trump waved around a classified battle plan in front of an author and publisher. Audio of the meeting — where prosecutors say Trump told his visitors ‘This is secret information. Look, look at this.’ — was turned over to federal investigators by an unnamed source,” according to Insider.
CNN’s reporting about the Trump tape identifies only one of the meeting’s participants by name. She is the woman pictured here, Trump communications aide Margo Martin, who, at least as of March, remained in his employ. 1/https://t.co/XVzKexr1Io pic.twitter.com/Xa3NgcpYKD
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) May 31, 2023
Because of her resemblance to Trump’s wife, Martin has since earned the nickname “fake Melania” from Twitter critics.
Look:
AKA Fake Melania….
— Shauna (@BestCoastShotz) June 14, 2023
#FakeMelania sighting!
— Haptic Ulcer (@HapticUlcer) June 14, 2023
Fake Melania is my favorite Melania.
— AlexisVoteBlue❄️ (@Alexis202274) June 14, 2023
The only people fooled by fake Melania are the MAGATS. It’s so ridonkulous.
— Karin Smith ️ (@KarinLaPlage) June 14, 2023
Nope. Margo Martin, Trump’s “Deputy of Communication”, aka, “Fake Melania”.
— Tina Jackson (@PhilaFilly) June 14, 2023
I was watching a local news channel tonight covering Trump’s arraignment and they went into the fact that Melania was not there, but then matter-of-fact pointed out a FAKE MELANIE that was at the arraignment, and they commented “gosh that girl sure does look a lot like Melania!”
— ꧁Chuck E.꧂ (@EmDashPython) June 14, 2023
Trump just wants fake Melania around for 2 reasons, both fake and bigger than @MELANIATRUMP s pic.twitter.com/ldATWzazG8
— AudiRS6CEO (@CeoRs6) June 14, 2023
Martin previously made headlines at the start of the month when Newsweek reported that her laptop “could hold [a] treasure trove of Donald Trump recordings.”
“Reports that prosecutors have obtained a recording of Donald Trump admitting he kept hold of a classified document after he left the White House has raised speculation on how much further evidence could be retrieved from a laptop belonging to an aide of the former president,” according to Newsweek.
“Martin, a former deputy director of communications for Trump’s Save America PAC who now works on his 2024 campaign, testified to a special grand jury in March as part of the classified documents probe after having her laptop and phones imaged by prosecutors in January,” as reported by Newsweek.
What else is there to know about her? She’s active on both Twitter and Instagram, where she frequently posts photos of the former president:
Crowd in Versailles Bakery wishes President @realDonaldTrump a Happy Early Birthday! pic.twitter.com/4sI5EaNvzA
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) June 13, 2023
President Trump always stands with our Law Enforcement pic.twitter.com/Dk2s4eQZef
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) June 10, 2023
Time for the Trump Tower Burger at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, NH! pic.twitter.com/xOV5VnklaN
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) April 27, 2023
President Trump stops by a local McDonalds in East Palestine, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/XEbfjJPpzt
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) February 22, 2023
Moreover, her sister is a morning anchor for NewsNation.
This isn’t the first time the notion of a “fake Melania” has emerged. Back in the early part of Trump’s presidency, conspiracy theorists claimed that the real Melania had been replaced by a body double, i.e., by a “fake Melania.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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