‘Melania rules the roost’: New book reveals first lady's power over the Trump family

A new book claims Melania Trump wields considerable power over her husband in the White House.

Former Washington Post reporter Ronald Kessler's book, The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game, is due out Tuesday, and includes one telling anecdote about the first lady's relationship with President Donald Trump, reported Axios.

According to the book, longtime Mar-A-Lago butler Anthony Senecal once opened the door on a Saturday to find Martha Stewart standing outside.

Stewart had bicycled to the Florida resort and asked for a tour, according to Kessler, but the butler asked her to come back the following afternoon.

"Trump lit into the butler, screaming at him and calling him a ‘dumb ass’ for scheduling the tour at 3 p.m. when workers would be shifting furniture around," Kessler reported. Trump yelled that Senecal instead should have scheduled the tour for lunchtime, when well-heeled club members would be on hand to impress and be impressed."

Kessler reported that Melania Trump scolded her husband: “I don’t think you should talk to Tony in that tone."

Senecal told the author that the following day Donald Trump handed him $2,000 in $20 bills without explanation.

“It was his way of apologizing," the butler said. "Melania rules the roost."