{"id":894060,"date":"2026-10-25T11:28:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T11:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/894060\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T11:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T11:28:14","slug":"melania-trump-cornered-on-stealing-ceasefire-credit-from-pope-leo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/894060\/","title":{"rendered":"Melania Trump Cornered on Stealing Ceasefire Credit From Pope Leo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"w-full [font:var(--article-header-dek-sm)] [letter-spacing:var(--article-header-dek-sm-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--article-header-dek-sm-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--article-header-dek-sm-text-transform)] md:[font:var(--article-header-dek-lg)] md:[letter-spacing:var(--article-header-dek-lg-letter-spacing)] md:[text-decoration:var(--article-header-dek-lg-text-decoration)] md:[text-transform:var(--article-header-dek-lg-text-transform)] text-[var(--components-article-header-color-dek)]\" data-fp-intro=\"\">The first lady gave a cryptic, three-word response when asked about visiting Ukraine amid a growing dispute over who really brokered a ceasefire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)]\" data-block-type=\"text\">Melania Trump is considering a trip to war-torn Ukraine after triumphantly announcing on Friday that she had personally brokered a localized ceasefire in the country. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">After Melania and her husband, President Donald Trump, cast their votes in the midterm elections at a West Palm Beach, Florida, polling location on Saturday near their Mar-a-Lago home, the first lady was asked whether she planned to visit Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">\u201cWe will see,\u201d she replied cryptically, before quickly turning around and leaving the venue. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">\u201cIt could happen,\u201d the president added, following close behind. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-slot=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/HZYKHOCTWZH5FP57B4YXG75QRY.JPG\"   alt=\"&quot;It could happen,&quot; Trump said of his wife taking a trip to war-torn Ukraine following the ceasefire she claims to have brokered.\" width=\"6500\" height=\"4335\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full h-auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-caption)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-caption-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-caption-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-caption-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-caption-dark)]\">\u201cIt could happen,\u201d Trump said of his wife taking a trip to war-torn Ukraine following the ceasefire she claims to have brokered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">Melania ignited a firestorm Friday after the White House credited her with single-handedly securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, in the city of Oleshky.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">The ceasefire is intended to allow evacuations and the delivery of vital supplies to the city, whose residents have endured food shortages and disease after years of war. <\/p>\n<p>Get the Best of the BeastSign Up for The Swamp Newsletter<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">Despite the fanfare Melania\u2019s statement generated inside the administration, outside the White House she was quickly slammed and accused of trying to <a data-element=\"Inline Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/melania-accused-of-stealing-credit-from-cancer-stricken-pope\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">steal credit from Pope Leo<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">The cancer-stricken pontiff had called Russian President Vladimir Putin to request a ceasefire in Oleshky one week before Melania announced her own deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">The pope made the call from his hospital bed, where he was recovering from surgery following a lung cancer diagnosis. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">Melania\u2019s top adviser, Marc Beckman, appeared to brush aside the pope\u2019s earlier intervention, insisting the achievement belonged to the first lady alone. <\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792927694_562_poster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover pointer-events-none\" loading=\"lazy\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">\u201cYesterday she brokered\u2014single-handedly brokered\u2014a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine within the area of Oleshky,\u201d Beckman told Fox &amp; Friends Weekend on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">In fact, according to Beckman, it was Melania who inspired the pope to get involved in the cause\u2014not the other way around. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">The president is also sticking by his wife\u2019s account of how the negotiations went down, claiming to reporters that she is \u201cdoing better than the professionals right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">\u201cIt is great to have [the] pope\u2019s support,\u201d Melania added. <\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">The Daily Beast has reached out to the first lady\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-slot=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IGSDGGKY4ZDDDJXLHKF4SIJRLY.JPG\"   alt=\"US first lady Melania Trump arrives to cast her ballot in the 2026 midterm elections at Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, October 24, 2026. REUTERS\/Umit Bektas\" width=\"5815\" height=\"3924\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full h-auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-caption)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-caption-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-caption-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-caption-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-caption-dark)]\">Melania was cryptic when asked about possible plans to visit Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">Vatican officials, <a data-element=\"Inline Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vaticannews.va\/en\/pope\/news\/2026-10\/pope-leo-xiv-update.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin<\/a>, have maintained that the ceasefire was indeed the pope\u2019s initiative, contradicting the Trumps\u2019 version of events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"[font:var(--text-paragraph)] [letter-spacing:var(--text-paragraph-letter-spacing)] [text-decoration:var(--text-paragraph-text-decoration)] [text-transform:var(--text-paragraph-text-transform)] text-[var(--color-text-body-dark)] [&amp;_a]:underline [&amp;_a:hover]:text-[var(--components-content-card-color-title-hover)] tdb-paywall\" data-block-type=\"text\">Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia thanked both Melania and Pope Leo for their efforts in achieving the localized ceasefire, describing it as the culmination of a long process involving all sides.<\/p>\n<p>Unlock a year of full access to The Daily Beast for $35.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s IncludedUnlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches &amp; events<\/p>\n<p data-slot=\"renewal-note\" class=\"mt-auto w-full text-center text-balance [font-family:var(--typography-family-body)] [font-weight:var(--font-weight-400)] text-[length:var(--font-size-3)] leading-[var(--font-line-height-leading-3)] tracking-[var(--font-letter-spacing-default)] text-[var(--components-subs-card-color-header-caveat)]\">Auto-renews at $5.99 monthly. 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