Fact Check

Is WhiteHouse.gov Promoting Melania Trump's QVC Products?

The First Lady's site bio included mentions of jewelry lines promoted by the shopping network.

Published Jan. 20, 2017

 (A Katz)
Image Via A Katz
Claim:
Melania Trump's biography on the White House web site promotes her jewelry line.
What's True

First Lady Melania Trump's biography page on WhiteHouse.gov makes note of her QVC jewelry line.

What's False

QVC no longer has an active relationship with Melania Trump's brand.

New First Lady Melania Trump's biography on the official White House website briefly highlighted not just her early life, but her business ventures.

The page initially made note of a jewelry line she promoted via the QVC shopping network:

Melania is also a successful entrepreneur. In April 2010, Melania Trump launched her own jewelry collection, "Melania™ Timepieces & Jewelry”, on QVC.

However, a search for the collection on the network's website produces no results.

A network spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Post that the line has been discontinued:

At QVC, we pride ourselves on curating an ever-changing mix of products from thousands of brands for our customers to discover. As part of this, QVC has offered items from Melania Trump’s brand. At this time, QVC does not have an active relationship with the brand.

However, the statement regarding the jewelry lines had been removed from the page as of 23 January 2017.

A government watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, filed a complaint on 20 January 2017 accusing Melania Trump's husband, President Donald Trump, of violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution by refusing to sever ties with his business holdings prior to taking office.

Sources

Snell, Kelsey. "White House website touts Melania Trump’s modeling and jewelry line." The Washington Post. 20 January 2017.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Trump now violating Constitution." www.citizensforethics.org. 20 January 2017.

Teachout, Zephyr and Tillman, Seth Barrett. "The Foreign Emoluments Clause: Article I, Section 9, Clause 8." Constitutioncenter.org

Arturo Garcia is a former writer for Snopes.

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