New York Times columnist Charles Blow says Melania Trump can't possibly be shocked by her husband's alleged extramarital affair with a porn actress.
Blow wrote that the payoff to adult film star Stormy Daniels is "so lewd and tawdry" that it manages to rise above -- or sink below -- the standard set by President Donald Trump.
"It’s not even the infidelity that most bothers me," Blow wrote. "I view that as an issue between spouses and with the other person involved. I contend that we on the outside never really know what understandings may exist in a marriage, unless the two parties within reveal it."
"In this case, Melania knew exactly the kind of man she was getting," he added.
Blow recounted that the future president met his future wife at a New York Fashion Week party while on a date with another woman, while in the process of divorcing his second wife, Marla Maples, who had previously been his mistress.
“According to GQ, 'He sent his companion to the bathroom so he could have a few minutes to chat up the model he’d noticed. But Melania knew of Trump’s reputation — which was immediately confirmed by the fact that he had come to the party with a date and was now asking for her number.”
"That’s right," Blow wrote. "Melania knew."
The columnist said Trump engaged in some of his worst known behavior shortly before and after Melania gave birth to their son, Barron -- such as publicly leering at his daughter, Ivanka, bragging about getting away with sexual assault on the "Access Hollywood" tape and allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with Daniels.
"Through it all, Melania has remained," Blow wrote. "So, that’s their marriage. They clearly have some sort of understanding, some emotional elasticity — or financial dependency — that is beyond my comprehension."
