Hillary Clinton recounts first post-election encounter with Melania Trump in new book

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has shared her first interaction after the 2016 election with former first lady Melania Trump in her new book that came out Tuesday.

The meeting occurred at the memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in November 2023, Clinton recounts in "Something Lost, Something Gained." Clinton had not been told that the former first lady would be in attendance, though Carter's grandson had requested she come.

"Rosalynn’s grandson Jason said it had been her wish that all the First Ladies would come together for her memorial in a show of unity in these divisive times," Clinton writes.

Clinton recounts that she understood how Trump might feel in the presence of families her husband has repeatedly attacked before and after his presidency.

"Melania had a look on her face – very smiley but uncertain – that reminded me of the little kid at the birthday party who doesn’t know anyone and is waiting at the edge of the circle, hoping people are going to be nice," Clinton writes.

Clinton said that she had first met Melania Trump at her wedding with former President Donald Trump in 2005.

Trump is scheduled to release her memoirs on Oct. 8.

Clinton questions Melania's role in Trump admin environment

Clinton wrote that she felt "conflicted" about how critical to be of Trump.

"On a gut level, I have never believed that a wife bears responsibility for the actions of her husband," Clinton wrote. "But did she aid and abet her husband’s worst instincts? Was she quietly complicit in his bigotry and hate-mongering?"

Clinton noted that Trump wearing a jacket that read, " I really don't care, do u ?" during a 2018 visit to a shelter holding immigrant children separated from their families was on brand for the Trump administration but would not pass judgment on Melania's appearance.

Clinton defends Trump's outfit at Carter funeral

Clinton defends the outfit Trump wore to the Carter's memorial in the book. Trump wore a grey suit to the funeral, which was criticized for not being black, the traditional color of mourning.

“Let’s get real. The Victorian-era tradition of donning black for funerals has gone the way of the edict against wearing white after Labor Day," Clinton writes. "Jason Carter wore a gray suit to deliver a tribute to his ‘cool grandma.’ President Biden was in blue. As far as I can tell, neither of them got any flak for it."

Clinton further defends the gathered first ladies, including Trump, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, from criticism from "The Washington Post" for not appearing convivial at the service.

"Consider that perhaps the five of us First Ladies didn’t enter the sanctuary all smiley and sociable, like we were walking into a chick-flick matinee, because, you know, we were at a funeral," Clinton wrote, further noting that Obama had hugged Trump in a private holding room before the service.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hillary Clinton recounts first post-election encounter with Melania Trump in new book