Book Tour Dates
Donald Trump's Most Intriguing Quotes About Marriage
Jo Piazza
There are days when I look at Melania Trump and I think, "she has the world all figured out. This might actually be the Melania show." And there are others where I wonder if she sits in her gold plated living room and cries herself to sleep. Because honey, this is not what she signed up for.
Of course I'm talking about the whole having to be First Lady thing. When it came to the Donald, Melania must have known exactly what she was getting into. President-elect Donald Trump has been perfectly transparent about his thoughts on marriage, partnership and the role of the wife. And here's the thing—not everything he says is terrible.
In fact, his advice that couples should think about marriage like someone would think about negotiating an important business deal is actually pretty damn good advice. But, for every glimmer of humanity, there is a cesspool of misogyny more palpable than the first season of "Mad Men."
On Being Thoughtful About Entering a Marriage
"A good marriage is like negotiating an important deal: You have to consider all the factors, thoughtfully and thoroughly. If you were investing a large part of yourself and your fortune into a venture, believe me, you'd make sure you thought about it for a long time first. That's how I see marriage. It's serious, and it's important. I don't approach it any more haphazardly than I do a very important deal. In fact, considering the amount of deals I've made compared to the number of marriages I've had, I'd say I'm quite cautious about marriage. You should be, too." (Think Like A Billionaire via HuffPo)
On Infidelity
"All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me – consciously or unconsciously. That's to be expected." (Trump: How to Get Rich via CBS News)
"I even thought, briefly, about approaching Ivana with the idea of an 'open marriage.' But I realized there was something hypocritical and tawdry about such an arrangement that neither of us could live with — especially Ivana. She's too much of a lady." (Trump: Surviving at the Top via Washington Post)
On His Wives Living Up to his Mother
"Part of the problem I've had with women has been in having to compare them to my incredible mother, Mary Trump. My mother is smart as hell." (Trump: The Art of the Comeback via Washington Post)
About the Role of the Wife
"I think that putting a wife to work is a very dangerous thing. There was a great softness to Ivana, and she still has that softness, but during this period of time, she became an executive, not a wife… You know, I don't want to sound too much like a chauvinist, but when I come home and dinner's not ready, I'll go through the roof, okay?" (TrumpNation via HuffPo)
"For a man to be successful he needs support at home, just like my father had from my mother, not someone who is always griping and bitching. When a man has to endure a woman who is not supportive and complains constantly about his not being home enough or not being attentive enough, he will not be very successful unless he is unable to cut the cord." (The Art of the Comeback via HuffPo)
"Women have one of the great acts of all time. The smart ones act very feminine and needy, but inside they are real killers. The person who came up with the expression 'the weaker sex' was either very naive or had to be kidding. I have seen women manipulate men with just a twitch of their eye — or perhaps another body part." (The Art of the Comeback via HuffPo)
"I love women. They've come into my life. They've gone out of my life. Even those who have exited somewhat ungracefully still have a place in my heart." (The Art of the Comeback via HuffPo)
"I grew up in a very normal family. I was always of the opinion that aggression, sex drive, and everything that goes along with it was on the man's part of the table, not the woman's. As I grew older and witnessed life firsthand from a front-row seat at the great clubs, social events, and parties of the world — I have seen just about everything — I began to realize that women are far stronger than men. Their sex drive makes us look like babies. Some women try to portray themselves as being of the weaker sex, but don't believe it for a minute." (Trump: The Art of the Comeback via Washington Post)
"My big mistake with Ivana was taking her out of the role of wife and allowing her to run one of my casinos in Atlantic City, then the Plaza Hotel. The problem was, work was all she wanted to talk about. When I got home at night, rather than talking about the softer subjects of life, she wanted to tell me how well the Plaza was doing, or what a great day the casino had. I really appreciated all her efforts, but it was just too much. . . I will never again give a wife responsibility within my business. Ivana worked very hard, and I appreciated the effort, but I soon began to realize that I was married to a businessperson rather than a wife." (Trump: The Art of the Comeback via Washington Post)
"One thing I have learned: There is high maintenance. There is low maintenance. I want no maintenance." (Trump: The Art of the Comeback via Washington Post)
On Gay Marriage
"It's like in golf. A lot of people — I don't want this to sound trivial — but a lot of people are switching to these really long putters, very unattractive. It's weird. You see these great players with these really long putters, because they can't sink three-footers anymore. And, I hate it. I am a traditionalist. I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist." (New York Times via CBS News)
"I just don't feel good about it. I don't feel right about it. And I take a lot of heat because I come from New York." (Bill O'Reilly via HuffPo)
His Effect on Wives and Women
"I don't know why, but I seem to bring out either the best or worst in women." (Trump: Art of the Comeback via Washington Post)
On Divorce
"My marriage, it seemed, was the only area of my life in which I was willing to accept something less than perfection. . . . I grew up with the American Dream of sharing life with a wife and children, and that's not something you just toss aside easily. I also stayed with Ivana because, as in most marriages, there was pressure to keep things intact. . . . There's nothing wrong, of course, with worrying about the effects of divorce on your children and the other people around you. The problem is that those considerations aren't enough to keep a marriage together. You can go for counseling, you can have heart-to-heart talks, you can stay together 'for the sake of the kids.' But in the end it's always better for everyone if some couples part." (Trump: Surviving at the Top via Washington Post)
Image courtesy of Wikimedia.
5 Ways Facebook Can Ruin Your Relationship ...
How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Day ...
I Got a Little Chubby After My Wedding
Why I Crowd-Sourced Marriage Advice From Around the World
Follow Jo on Instagram
Copyright 2017 Jo Piazza