Lauren A. Wright is a lecturer in politics and public affairs at Princeton University and the author of "On Behalf of the President: Presidential Spouses and White House Communications Strategy Today." When Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about Trump’s accent after she read to children at the White House Easter Egg Roll, the resulting firestorm was so intense that the late-night talk show host eventually apologized. But my research also shows that first ladies do more policy advocacy and public relations work than any official presidential surrogate. But in short order, presidential spouses’ unique ability to enhance White House communications proved too irresistible to leave first ladies out of the political arena for good. But because of the intense and concerted effort to create an apolitical image, direct attacks on presidential spouses are guaranteed to elicit fierce reaction.

Source: Washington Post April 26, 2018 16:08 UTC