“ |
If you knew the sacrifices that I have made, the things that I have given up, and the pieces of myself that I have given away for you, and you treat me this way. You declare war on me, and you shame me, and you make me beg for scraps when I have done nothing but fight for you. |
” |
— Mellie confronting Fitz Grant src |
Melody Margaret "Mellie" Grant is the 45th President of the United States, she assumed office on January 20th 2019. She was married to the 44th President of the United States, Fitzgerald Grant III and together, they have a deceased son, Jerry Grant Jr., a daughter, Karen Grant, and a son, Teddy Grant.
Melody Grant seemed like she had it all. The grand White House, beautiful children, and the most powerful husband in the world. But Mellie was never meant to be anyone's trophy wife. As pieces of her perfect life began to fall away, Mellie became even more fierce and ready to fight for what she deserves. Not satisfied with picking out china patterns, she's got her eye on the real prize—becoming the first elected woman President of the United States.[1]
History
Mellie Grant was a lawyer, having graduated first in her class at Harvard Law School, and worked as a partner at an unnamed law firm in California until the beginning of her husband's political career and birth of her eldest son, Jerry. Following her husband's rise to the office of Governor of California, then President of the United States, she provided political advice that stemmed off her dream of running for elected office. Her turbulent relationship with former husband, Fitz Grant, constantly tested the strength of their commitment due to his numerous affairs as their arranged "political marriage” devolved to a begrudged marriage of convenience. Despite their conflicts, they still offer each other much needed council on political crises and gaffes that they face throughout the series.
Mellie began her career in elected office during Fitz's second term as President, when Vice President Andrew Nichols suffered a stroke and was deemed unfit to serve, being succeeded by U.S. Senator Susan Ross, leaving a seat open in the Senate. Mellie ran and was successfully elected as the junior U.S. senator for Virginia just prior to her divorce, with Fitz being present to hold the bible during her swearing in ceremony. Throughout her brief tenure in the U.S. Senate, she gained a much needed boost in political capital following the abrupt end of her term as First Lady of the United States, famously filibustering to protect funding for Planned Parenthood.
In 2018, freshman senator Mellie enlists political operative and her husband's former mistress Olivia Pope to help run her campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidential election. Following a competitive primary, incumbent Vice President Susan Ross and businessman Hollis Doyle withdraw from the race due to the political workings of Olivia Pope and White House Chief of Staff, Abby Wheelan. Mellie becomes the Presumptive nominee of the Republican primary, and is formally nominated at the 2018 Republican Convention alongside her running mate, Jake Ballard.
On election night, after Mellie lost the presidential election (280-258), President-elect Francisco Vargas was assassinated and his running mate, former ally of Mellie, Cyrus Beene, was arrested as the primary suspect. Facing the unprecedented death of a President-elect prior to inauguration, and a resulting constitutional crisis, Mellie was presumed to win the Electoral College vote, which was to go ahead as planned. However, days before the vote, Vice President-elect Cyrus was cleared of all charges, raising uncertainty regarding the outcome of the vote and the legitimacy of both candidates. As later revealed, Luna Vargas hired Peus and his associates to blackmail the electors to officially vote Mellie as President of the United States, and Luna as Vice President, after Mellie was pressured to drop Jake Ballard as her running mate. Grant and Vargas were inaugurated on January 20th 2019 as President and Vice President, respectively, with Vice President Vargas being assassinated by Olivia and Jake that evening. To fill the vacancy, Cyrus Beene was later nominated and confirmed as Vice President.
As of the end of the series, Mellie is the 45th President of the United States of America, serving without a Vice President following the resignation of Cyrus Beene. Olivia Pope served as her Chief of Staff from the inauguration until her resignation, being succeeded temporarily by former NSA Director Jake Ballard until his arrest for the crimes of the covert government agency, B613.
Personality
Mellie has always had extraordinary intellect and has always been an eloquent woman, knowing that despite what happens, there is a bigger end goal to work towards. She is known for her resilience and strength, dealing with over a decade of infidelity, and later revealed, rape by her father-in-law. She allowed the challenges she faced to fuel her political ambition, she could affect real change one day.
Relationships
Fitz Grant
Fitz and Mellie were introduced to each other by Fitz's father, Jerry Grant. Jerry initiated a political marriage between Fitz and Mellie because he appreciated Mellie's "old money blood". Despite being close initially, Mellie confessed that she and Fitz were no longer in love after years of a political marriage, but were always partners. ("Molly, You in Danger, Girl / The Other Woman")
During the 2010 presidential primary election season, Fitz and Mellie are having trouble coming off as relatable to their constituents due to their cold, struggling marriage. Following Olivia Pope's advice, they start to act more like a warm and loving couple; like the couple one would want to invite into their house, or vote to the White House. This garners more support for Fitz throughout the Republican primaries, resulting in a landslide performance during Super Tuesday. Mellie is shown to be very loyal to her husband's campaign at this time, going through great lengths to ensure that he is elected, faking a miscarriage on national television to garner sympathy from female voters. ("The Trail")
During Fitz's Presidency, Mellie becomes increasingly impatient with Fitz due to his mismanagement of his personal and professional affairs. She is annoyed at his lack of decisive leadership and attempts to make a few major decisions of her own. She is extremely upset when she finds out about Fitz's affair and possible pregnancy with Amanda Tanner. However, she still remains loyal to Fitz throughout further affairs coming to light, protecting his presidency and consequently, her First Lady status and political capital. ("Grant: For the People")
After Fitz's affair with Amanda Tanner, Mellie is no longer indifferent to Fitz and Olivia's clandestine relationship. She grows angry every time she finds out that they get together or makes decisions as President for Olivia. Eventually she demands that her and Fitz sleep in separate bedrooms because she "doesn't want to sleep with a man whose dreams of Olivia Pope causes him to have an erection every night". ("Hunting Season "/ "Beltway Unbuckled")
Mellie first admits that she knows about Olivia and Fitz's affair shortly after Fitz's inauguration as President when he takes Olivia to view the Constitution of the United States. The trip is traditionally taken with the future president and his first lady, causing Mellie to deduce that Olivia's and Fitz were romantically involved. ("Happy Birthday, Mr. President")
Mellie notices that Fitz has been hostile to those around him, including his children, after he discovers that Olivia was involved in rigging the 2010 Presidential election in Fitz's favour, showing she is not the person he thought she was. So Mellie attempts to get back on his "good side", unsuccessfully. She gives an explosive speech to Fitz, leading to an argument about her lack of mothering skills, resulting in Mellie telling Fitz the truth, that their children did not want to come home because Fitz had become an angry, bitter, drunk. ("Snake in the Garden")
Fitz and Mellie eventually divorced. Since then, however, their relationship has become more cordial, reaching out to each other about political matters and co-parenting their children together.
For more on Mellie's relationship with Fitz visit their relationship page: Fitz and Mellie
Andrew Nichols
For information about Andrew's relationship with Mellie visit their relationship page: Meldrew
Marcus Walker
Marcus disliked Mellie at first because he thinks she is mean, privileged, annoying and whiny. When they got to work together, they eventually get along. While working together closely, they began to develop feelings for each other. They first tried to ignore the feelings they have for each other due to their work circumstances but it didn't work out and they started having a secret love affair. When Olivia found out about that, she decided to break them apart because there would be consequences if the public knew about the love affair. Olivia asked Abby as a favor to offer Marcus a job at the White House in order to break him up with Mellie. Marcus then got the Press Secretary job at the White House. When he got the job, Mellie accuses him of choosing it over her and that he only slept with her climb the ladder. But he told her he chose her and he would choose her, all she has to do is choose him.
Farid Rashad
Mellie developed personal feelings for Rashad while working together on Middle East peace. They got closer each day working together and a sexual tension started to rise. When Mellie showed concerns about him going back to Bashran while things there were chaotic, they finally kiss. However, Mellie stopped him and she arranged a plane for him to go back to his country, Bashran, as he wanted to. He promised her he would come back to the U.S. but he was killed in a plane explosion before he even made it back. (Adventures in Babysitting)
Trivia
- She was born and raised in rural North Carolina, as stated in the season three episode, Everything's Coming Up Mellie.
- In the episode, First Lady Sings the Blues, it was revealed that her first name is "Melody".
- She is the first female President of the United States of America. Vice President Sally Langston served as Acting President after the assassination attempt on Fitzgerald Grant, though Langston never formally succeeded Grant as President of the United States.
- In the series finale it is suggested Olivia Pope is potentially her successor as the 46th President of the United States.
Behind the scene
- The character was only mean to have a four to five episodes arc.[2]
Gallery
- → See and enjoy 505 pictures of Mellie Grant at Images of Mellie Grant.
Screenshots
Promotional Photos
Quotes
Videos
- → Watch more videos of Mellie Grant at Category:Videos of Mellie Grant.