Trump reveals the nickname Melania uses for him when she's 'angry' and says she 'almost blew away' in her inauguration day hat
President Donald Trump teased first lady Melania Trump as he delivered remarks to lawmakers and their spouses at the Capitol Visitor Center after his official swearing-in ceremony on Monday.
Melania, still sporting her inauguration day hat, and Usha Vance were seated next to his podium in chairs as the new president hit a variety of topics in more freewheeling remarks than his official inaugural address.
The first lady's close proximity meant that the president razzed her several times.
'We had some beauties didn't we Melania?' he said at one point. 'She said "sir" - calls me sir when she's angry,' Trump revealed.
'I'm only kidding,' he continued. 'I better say I'm only kidding or the press is going to pick that one up loud and clear.'
But Trump couldn't resist ribbing Melania on her high heels and her hat.
'I have a first lady who has been incredible,' he told the crowd. 'I shouldn't say this, I'm going to get hell when I say this. Her feet our absolutely aching, you know those heels.'
Trump explained that the first lady thought they were going to the White House to change after the swearing-in, but he was asked to address the overflow crowd ahead of the traditional inauguration day luncheon.
President Donald Trump (right) teases first lady Melania Trump while making off-the-cuff remarks to an overflow crowd at the Capitol Visitor Center Monday. 'She almost blew away,' he said of the first lady and her hat
President Donald Trump (left) gives a fist bump as he and first lady Melania Trump (right) walk outside the Capitol Building to watch President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden fly away in a Marine One-type helicopter
'But she said darling I love you so much but my feet are killing me,' Trump said. 'She said we're going to make it no matter what.'
The president also talked about going outside to say goodbye to the Bidens.
'And the wind was blowing like crazy. And with the hat she was wearing. She almost blew away,' Trump said to laughs as Melania interjected.
'She was being elevated off the ground. She almost blew away,' he continued.
Trump then applauded his wife for being a 'beautiful and great first lady.'
She stayed off the campaign trail during the 2024 race but has been at his side consistently since he won reelection in November and as they move back into the White House Monday.
During his off-the-cuff remarks, Trump also expressed displeasure with Biden for his last-minute preemptive pardons including to members of the House select January 6 committee, including former GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
'What they did is they destroyed and deleted all of the information, all of the hearings, practically not a thing left,' Trump said, falsely claiming the committee scrubbed information on how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused the help of 10,000 soldiers.
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) greet the overflow crowd who watched the swearing-in from the Capitol Visitor Center on Monday. During off-the-cuff remarks he teased the first lady about her hat and tall heels
First lady Melania Trump (center) interjects as President Donald Trump razzed her about her hat. 'She was being elevated off the ground. She almost blew away,' the president said. She was seated next to Usha Vance (left) and alongside Vice President J.D. Vance (right)
First lady Melania Trump (left) holds onto her hat as she and President Donald Trump (right) walk outside the U.S. Capitol Building to watch former President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden lift off
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (left) escort former President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden (right) outside to a Marine One-type helicopter as the Bidens took off toward Joint Base Andrews Monday afternoon
'Why are we helping Liz Cheney ... she's a crying lunatic,' Trump also said.
Trump claimed Kinzinger was always 'crying' as well.
He went on a long segue about how Rep. Steve Scalise survived being shot at a 2017 Congressional Baseball Game practice and how his wife's reaction proved she really loved him.
'That woman was a mess. She was crying and crying,' Trump said.
'The doctor told me it was the most blood they've ever transfused in any patient. They've never done anything like it. And here he is, the picture of strength, right?' the new president also offered.
Trump said that Melania had advised him not to put some of his more controversial plans into his inaugural address, including his intent to pardon those involved in the January 6th Capitol attack.
'She said it's such a beautiful speech, you can't put things in there that you're going to put in. And I was going to put in January 6th hostages,' Trump said. 'But you'll be happy because, you know, it's action not words that count. And you're going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages.'
'Please don't bring that up right now. You can bring it up tomorrow,' Trump said. 'I said, "How about now?"'
