AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, gives a thumbs-up as they walk to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017.
President Donald Trump in an interview with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defended the first lady over backlash she received for wearing stiletto heels before boarding flights to hurricane-ravaged areas.
Trump made the comments in response to a question from Huckabee on Melania Trump's high approval ratings, saying that she is a "private person" who "loved her other life."
"She doesn't need to be adored by people, but she does like to help people. And she sees how important it is. And she's taken tremendous abuse," Trump told Huckabee.
Melania Trump was criticized in August for wearing high heels before heading to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, although she changed into sneakers before landing. She made a similar move this week when visiting Puerto Rico, boarding her flight while wearing stilettos before switching to Timberland work boots.
The president told Huckabee that the first lady had dressed up "out of respect for the White House," adding that she "wants to look good leaving the front entrance."
He continued: "So she dresses up, and she puts on formal shoes, high heels, and she leaves the White House going to Texas, or going to wherever we want to go - Florida, actually twice. So walking through that front door, she did. Now, she has sneakers in the meantime with her so she can change into other clothing when we're walking through where a hurricane is just leaving, and she took tremendous abuse."
Trump added that people he has met have not appeared to mind the first lady's heels.
"But the good
Trump's interview with Huckabee, who is the father of White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, will air on Saturday for the first episode of his show "Huckabee" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Watch the clip below: