Melania hits back after Ivana calls herself 'first lady'

Melania Trump has released a statement after Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana, called herself ‘first lady’ in an interview.

Trump was married to Ivana from 1977 until they divorced in 1992 after he was caught having an affair with Marla Maples.

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The now President of the United States had three children with Ivana and while he may have married Melania in 2005, Ivana reckons she’s the real ‘first lady’.

Speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America, Ivana, who is promoting her new book called ‘Raising Trump’, said she often calls Trump in the White House.

Melania Trump has hit back after Donald Trump's ex-wife called herself the real First Lady. Photo: Getty Images
Melania Trump has hit back after Donald Trump's ex-wife called herself the real First Lady. Photo: Getty Images
Ivana said she has a direct line to the White House and was his first wife, so essentially she is the first lady. Photo: Getty Images
Ivana said she has a direct line to the White House and was his first wife, so essentially she is the first lady. Photo: Getty Images

"I have the direct number to White House but I don't really want to call him there because Melania is there and I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm first lady, OK?" she said.

And even though Ivana is the mother of three of Trump’s children – Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric – Melania didn’t take the comment lying down.

In a statement released to CNN by Melania’s communications director, Stephanie Grisham, Melania said she is “honoured by her role as first lady of the United States”.

Ivana Trump has written a book about her time married to Donald Trump. Photo: Getty Images
Ivana Trump has written a book about her time married to Donald Trump. Photo: Getty Images
The pair were married from 1977 until 1992. Photo: Getty Images
The pair were married from 1977 until 1992. Photo: Getty Images

“She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books.

"There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, this is unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise."

Ivana also ruffled a few feathers when an extract from her book was released, in which she reveals all about her ‘insane” divorce from Donald Trump, after he had an affair with Marla Maples.

According to Associated Press, Ivana wrote in the book about a day in 1989 where she came face-to-face with Marla.

"This young blonde woman approached me out of the blue and said 'I'm Marla and I love your husband. Do you?'" Ivana writes in the book.

"I said 'Get lost. I love my husband.' It was unladylike but I was in shock."

Donald and Ivana are now on good terms. Photo: Getty Images
Donald and Ivana are now on good terms. Photo: Getty Images

She goes on to say that she couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing her face plastered across the screen and was worried about her kids during the divorce.

"I can only shake my head at how it insane it was," she reportedly wrote.

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