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She made comments about Tiffany and Barron.
By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Sep 04, 2019
If you’ve been keeping count, dozens of people have left the Trump administration since he took office. Aside from golfing during a hurricane, separating families at the border, and feigning ignorance in the wake of the accusations against Jeffrey Epstein, this administration has been plagued with a bizarre number of resignations and firings.
The most recent one? Trump’s 28-year-old personal assistant, Madeleine Westerhout. Not only did she allegedly “indiscreetly shared details about his family and the Oval Office operations... at a recent off-the-record dinner with reporters,” but she also discussed “Trump’s eating habits; his youngest son, Barron Trump; and his thoughts about [Tiffany’s] weight and appearance.” So ... who is Madeleine Westerhout?
Once known as Trump’s most loyal employee, Westerhout’s departure adds another X to an already full bingo board. But what else do we know about the now disgraced Madeleine Westerhout?
1. She’s from California, and used to be a barre instructor.
However, she eventually moved to the east coast where she attended the College of Charleston, majoring in political science. On her social media, she revealed that she loves Soul Cycle, and worked as a fitness instructor.
2. She worked for Mitt Romney.
Westerhout began her career as an RNC aide, traveling the country at GOP debates. She took off the fall semester of her senior year to work as an intern for Mitt Romney and his 2012 presidential campaign. She also called Romney “the greatest man I will ever work for... This country is certainly lucky to have someone like him run for president.”
After she graduated from college, she was the assistant to former RNC chief of staff, Katie Walsh, who later became a senior adviser in the Trump transition team.
3. She began working for Trump during the transition phase.
According to The Washington Post, her job duties included “control[ing] access to the Oval Office, deliver[ing] the president’s marker-scribbled messages, send[ing] orders to top military officials, print[ing] emails and articles to show Trump, and seek[ing] to keep a tight grip on his schedule.” She was also one of the few aides who had access to highly sensitive material, including Trump’s schedule. She also allegedly cried from being so upset after Trump’s win in 2016.
Originally known as the “elevator girl” who would escort individuals, her family began seeing her on camera, pressuring her to appear “camera-ready” at all times.
In an interview with CNN in 2016, she revealed, “The President-elect wanted to make sure all of his meetings were very transparent, so it became a little bit more public than I originally thought it was going to be... (I) definitely have to plan my outfits in advance, and we’re staying at a hotel in New York so I have to pack well in advance.
4. She was one of the highest paid White House employees.
Her annual salary was reported to be $145,000! Working as a special assistant and director of Oval Office operations, she stayed out of the spotlight for the most part, but had a “level of closeness” with Trump.
5. Trump had a nickname for her.
According to Tim Alberta’s book, American Carnage, Trump reportedly called Westerhout “my beautiful beauty.” Eww. Alberta also alleged that though she initially wavered in her support, she became one of his biggest supporters and would “reportedly do anything for the president.”
6. A dinner cost her her job.
Two weeks ago, Westerhout attended an “off-the-record” dinner during Trump’s working vacation in Bedminster, New Jersey. Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesperson, also attended, but after he left, she opened up to reporters about Trump’s diet, Barron Trump, and Tiffany Trump.
According to a source for Politico, she had been drinking when “in an uncharacteristically unguarded moment, she opened up to the reporters.” She also allegedly “gossiped” about “TV news personalities.”
7. Trump responded to her disloyalty.
Her dismissal was originally passed off as being on summer vacation, but news broke that she was fired after revealing intimate information. On Friday, Trump spoke to reporters as he left Camp David, saying, “I really think she had a bad night. I think it was unfortunate. She said she was drinking, and the whole thing was very unfortunate,” and that Westerhout “mentioned a couple of things about my children” while at the dinner.
However, he also called her “a very good person and I thought, I always felt she did a good job.” He disclosed that Westerhout called him and said she had been “drinking a little bit.” He also added, “Nevertheless, you don’t say things. You don’t say certain things, which were just a little bit hurtful to some people, so it was too bad,” and then wished her well. He also mentioned, “Tiffany is great.”
8. Tiffany Trump responded, too.
Westerhout allegedly told the reporters that Trump felt Tiffany was overweight and didn’t like to be photographed with her. Though Tiffany didn’t address the comments directly, she shared a story on Instagram: a poem from Rumi.
The poem read, “Study me as much as you like, you will never know me. For I differ a hundred ways from what you see me to be. Put yourself behind my eyes, and see me as I see myself. Because I have chosen to dwell in a place you can’t see.”
Rumors have swirled for years over Tiffany’s relationship with her father. Adding to that, a source for People revealed in April 2018, “Since the inauguration, Tiffany and her father have sometimes gone for months without speaking and she went a very long time without seeing him. The last time she was at a family function with him, it was awkward for her and she didn’t feel totally welcome.”
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.