White House blasts rumors first lady lives with her parents

The White House on Monday pushed back against reports that first lady Melania Trump has a tense relationship with President Trump that has led her to live outside the White House. 

The Washington Post reported Sunday that the allegedly frayed relationship between the first lady and the president has spawned rumors that Melania Trump lives with her parents in Washington, D.C., and does not stay in the White House.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders blasted the story as “something that belongs in tabloid gossip.” 

{mosads}“Just when you think The Washington Post can’t get things any more wrong, they do,” Sanders said during Monday’s press briefing.

“That is an outrageous and ridiculous claim. The first lady lives here at the White House, we see her here regularly,” she said, adding that she hopes the Post will “do better next time.” 

The relationship between the president and first lady has been a subject of persistent speculation as President Trump faces allegations he had an extramarital affair with an adult-film star around the time Melania gave birth to their son Barron.

The Post reported that the first lady leads a largely separate life from the president.

Since January, the White House has been fighting back against allegations that President Trump’s longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid adult-film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 as part of a nondisclosure agreement related to a 2006 affair.

Trump has since acknowledged he paid Cohen a monthly retainer that was used to cover the cost of the payment, but has denied having relationship with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

The first lady has been silent publicly on the matter.

In recent weeks, Melania Trump has stepped more into the spotlight and has seen her approval ratings rise simultaneously. A CNN poll released Monday found the first lady has a 57 percent approval rating, 10 points higher than it was in January.

Last month, she arranged the administration’s first state visit, featuring the president and first lady of France. 

On Monday, she unveiled her official platform, titled Be Best. The agenda will focus on social media, opioid abuse and other obstacles children face in having a foundation for physical, social and emotional wellness.