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By Tufayel Ahmed
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How is Melania Trump coping with finally moving into the White House? Wine. Lots of wine. "Make America grape again!" said Laura Benanti, reprising her impersonation of the First Lady on Tuesday night's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The actor returned to the CBS late-night talker as Melania for an "exclusive interview" with Colbert, who just last week snagged a major coup when he interviewed her husband Donald Trump—or rather, a cartoon version of him. That ratings bump is really helping him gain inside access.
Colbert introduced the segment, which he said was "live via satellite from the White House," and cut to Benanti, who has really nailed Melania's pout, in a makeshift Oval Office.
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The Late Show host opened the interview asking the First Lady how she is adjusting to life in the White House. "I couldn't be happier...see?" responded Melania, making no adjustment to her deadpan facial expression. "These are my happy eyes."
Melania and Trump's youngest son Barron, 11, moved into the White House Monday, five months after the president. The pair stayed in New York after Trump's January inauguration so Barron could finish his school year.
"It was so lonely in New York doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I called it my prison of freedom," Benanti's Melania revealed to Colbert.
Colbert pointed out that Melania was the only First Lady in history who had not moved into the Washington, DC residence at the same time as the president. Melania said that as well as Barron finishing school, she had to "wait for the Comcast guy to come turn off my cable."
"Now, there's nothing...no reason whatsoever why I shouldn't be in the White House," Benanti added, trying to hold back tears. "You could look for one, but trust me, you will not find one."
Colbert then asked Melania about the viral footage of her appearing to slap away Trump's hand when he tried to hold hands during the couple's visit to Israel in May.
Melania said the instantly memed moment was perpetuated by the "fake news" media and explained what actually happened: "It wasn't a slap. His hands are so small I thought it was a mosquito."
Perhaps the highlight of the segment was Melania letting slip a joyous reaction to Colbert bringing up embattled Trump possibly facing impeachment hearings. "They are?" she responded, bright-eyed and smiling, to Colbert saying "people are talking about impeachment."
Melania closed her interview by saying, "In your greatest moments of doubt, you can always drink," before gulping down a large glass of red wine. I wonder if the real Melania is doing the same? Make America grape again, indeed.
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