Melania Trump Defends Leaving For Florida With Barron And Without The Donald -- Amid Backlash, Former Model Plans Surprising Move

Credit: TODAY

What shutdown? Melania Trump has packed all her fancy gowns and pricey shoes and fled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida with her son, Barron, to celebrate Christmas without her husband, Donald Trump.

President Trump is forced to stay in the nation’s capital to deal with the partial government shutdown and fight with Democrats and a few members of his own party.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed that POTUS will not be with his family in Florida this holiday season saying: “Due to the shutdown, President Trump will remain in Washington, D.C. and the First Lady will return from Florida so they can spend Christmas together.”

A source told Hollywood Life this is the reason why the former model decided to leave The Donald behind: “Melania is determined not to let the government shutdown affect their Christmas celebration at Mar-a-Largo, even though it has already delayed things with Donald having to stay behind in Washington. Melania subscribes to Donald’s belief though that it’s all down to the Democrats unwillingness to budge, and that the blame lays firmly with them.”

Melania blames the Democrats for the situation. The same insider went on to say: “Of course, Melania feels terrible for the federal employees that will have to go without pay over the holidays, but she doesn’t see why she and Donald should be held accountable for something she believes isn’t their fault. The way Melania sees it Donald is doing everything in his power to keep the country safe, and it’s crazy that anybody would have an issue with that.”

Amid backlash and rumors, Stephanie Grisham, who is FLOTUS’ spokesperson, was quick to defend the decision to travel without the president in a statement that read: “It has long been the family’s tradition to spend their Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago. Her plans to travel with her son to their Florida home for his winter break have not changed this year.”

Moreover, the presidential couple has a unique approach to Christmas. The New York billionaire once said: “Everyone gives me presents and I never open them. I’m like a bad-present person.”

Another insider also shared: “Melania says he’s next to impossible to buy for. Often they don’t exchange gifts at all for Christmas.”

Melania is expected to return to Washington before Christmas because political experts do not see an end to the shutdown before 2019.

They also say that it is a gift for the two sides.