During a speech on his βBig Beautiful Billβ over the weekend, Donald Trump appeared to go a little overexcited, and unwittingly revealed a controversial pet name he gives to wife Melania.
On Friday (4 July), the Republican addressed a gathering of supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, with a βSalute to Americaβ, commemorating the countryβs independence from Great Britain 249 years ago
The occasion also coincided with Congress enacting his latest financial endeavor, his βBig Beautiful Billβ, which includes multi-trillion-dollar tax benefits and increased defense spending, as well as allowing the US government to borrow more money, among other dubious goals.
Despite protests against it β including one from Trumpβs ex political pal, Elon Musk β legislation was cleared by the House on Friday, by a razorβthin 218β214 margin.
βThere could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago,β he said, kicking off the right-wing festivities with a victory lap. βWhen Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again.β
However, as he frequently does during public speeches, the Presidentβs list of issues jumped from one to the other until he arrived at the subject of military recruitment.
Just before going to bed, Trump made an unexpected and unconnected confession about what he refers to as his other half, Melania, 55.
βOne year ago, I told our lovely First Lady. I said, βYou know, First Ladyββ¦β he began, stopped abruptly.
βI call her βFirst Ladyβ because it makes me feel food. βFirst Ladyβ. isnβt it terrible?
βSaying, βGood night, First Lady, my darlingβ.β
For those in need of a reminder, Melania is Trumpβs third wife following his first marriage to Czech model Ivana ZelnΓΔkovΓ‘ (with whom he shares his three eldest children, Don Jr, Ivanka, and Eric) and second to former mistress Marla Maples (during which he welcomed daughter Tiffany).
During his most recent appearance, the politician, who has a 19-year-old son named Barron with Melania, continued, βBecause it reminds me that I am President. Thatβs why. I remarked, βFirst lady, itβs dreadful. βNo one wants to join our military force.β
Finally, returning to the goals of his measure, he said that a significant percentage of the funds would be invested in modernizing the United Statesβ military.
βWith all of the things we did, with the tax cuts and rebuilding our military, not one Democrat voted for us,β he continued.
βAnd I think weβll use it in the campaign thatβs coming up β the midterms. Because weβve got to beat them.β
Elsewhere, he promised the bill would βdeport the illegalsβ living in America, and cut billions of dollars of βwaste and fraudβ.
βWith this bill, every major promise I made to the people of Iowa in 2024 became a promise kept,β he went on.