![(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 8, 2020 US First Lady Melania Trump addresses the Marines Toys for Tots drive at Joint Base Base Anacostia Bolling in Washington, DC. First Lady Melania Trump released a farewell message on January 18, 2021 as she prepares to leave the White House, saying that "violence is never the answer," weeks after the president's supporters stormed the US Capitol. / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AFPCXBQGZJCKZ5UYWCCVUUA7BY.jpg?smart=true&auth=218c0ae6bb0788ddabe0ae1ab5805ab55e76e99a385290465dba91ca15214c9f&width=400&height=225)
First Lady Melania Trump has defended her White House renovations in an outgoing essay. AFP
First Lady Melania Trump has defended her White House renovations in an outgoing essay. AFP
Melania Trump defends White House renovations as she prepares to step down as first lady
First lady leaves her role with lower approval rating, at 47 per cent, than her recent predecessors