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America and France launched an extraordinary damage control exercise last night after explosive claims that Michelle Obama told Carla Bruni that life as in the White House was 'hell'.
Mrs Obama's spokesman slapped down the claims, first published in yesterday's Daily Mail.
They are taken from a new book - the wildly indiscreet 'Carla and the Ambitious' - which is to be released today.
# Elysee Palace and French Embassy in Washington claim Ms Bruni did not collaborate with book authors
# But authors stand by the revelation
In the book, Ms Bruni reveals that during a visit to the White House with her husband Nicolas Sarkozy last March, she asked Mrs Obama about her new role.
'Don't ask! It's hell. I can't stand it,' Mrs Obama was quoted as replying.
The book was written by journalists Michael Darmon and Yves Derai in what they claim is collaboration with Ms Bruni.
The Elysee Palace has denied that the Ms Bruni co-operated with the biography.
The French Embassy in Washington also released a statement denying that Mrs. Obama ever said those words.
The Embassy claimed Ms Bruni 'distances herself completely' from the book.
But last night a CBS News radio reporter in Paris wrote on his Twitter feed that the authors are standing by the quote.
White House correspondent Mark Knoller said the pair will not divulge their source, however.
He added: 'I could see how living in the WH could be "hell" at times: no privacy, press scrutiny, always on display.
'Even so, they ALL love it here.'
The book is described by one of the French authors as 'Carla in her own words.' She appears to portray herself as demanding, spoilt, and selfish.
She also gives extraordinary insight into her life as the wife of a leader - and her relationship with some of the most prominent figures in the world, including the American president.
'On the advice of the Obamas,' she says, 'We don't read the papers in the morning any more.'
She does not speak to the American First Lady very often, she adds in the book, but said that she likes her and 'could be her friend.'
Ms Bruni also tells how the U.S. President called her husband to congratulate him on becoming a grandfather after his son Jean had a baby boy Solal in January this year.
Mr Sarkozy pretended to be offended and said: 'You too, you will be a granddad one day'.
Mr Obama then teased him further by asking what Carla thought about being married to someone who was a grandfather.
In the book, Ms Bruni says one term as French president ‘will be enough’ for her husband and suggests he might take tips from his friend Tony Blair: ‘Why not start making money?’
According to a friend quoted in the book, the Sarkozys have been ‘impressed and inspired’ by Mr Blair’s fortune built up since he left Downing Street.
Ms Bruni also takes a thinly-veiled swipe at Princess Diana when talking about a visit to an African hospital full of Aids victims earlier this year.
She says she refused requests by French cameramen for a photograph of her carrying a baby in her arms ‘like Lady Di’, adding: ‘There’s something obscene in promoting yourself when you are giving of yourself.’
In the book, the Italian model, 42, accuses French government officials of trying to ‘kill’ her husband with too much work, and claims Mr Sarkozy lets himself be ‘bullied’ into complying.
Comparing herself to other leaders’ wives, Ms Bruni says: ‘I’m so different. I was a model. I sing, and I want to continue to sing. And on top of that you expect me to be subtle?’ And she admits: ‘I am a femme fatale, my dear.’
She also recounts a telephone row with Mr Sarkozy’s ex-wife Cecilia, who warned her that Mr Sarkozy had ‘not yet turned a new page’ after their marriage.
Ms Bruni replied: ‘Not only has he turned a page but he’s changed books altogether. And you are the only person on earth not to have noticed it.’
Coincidentally, a second book - this one completely unauthorised - was published this week which also suggest a fractious relationship between Bruni and the First Lady.
Its author Besma Lahouri refers to an alleged rivalry with Michelle Obama and says it has strained relations between the French and U.S. presidential couples.
Ms Lahouri says Ms Bruni's obsessions have shifted away from rock stars to women she perceives as rivals.
One is Nicolas Sarkozy's second wife Cecilia, who was divorced from the French president months after he took office and the second is Michelle Obama.
She is described in the book as 'the only one in (Carla's) eyes able to challenge her for the title of the world's sexiest and most glamorous first lady'.
The book chronicles the minutia of the first ladies' various meetings, suggesting that Obamas' alleged antipathy, or perhaps just indifference, to Ms Bruni has helped keep relations frosty between the French and U.S. presidential couples.
Ms Lahouri says Ms Bruni is 'a chameleon', someone who has 'trained herself to be a formidable actress'.
'She is a very foxy woman - I choose the word "foxy" over "clever". In fact, very foxy.'
The investigative reporter says Ms Bruni's image of distant, well-heeled perfection has kept her at arm's length from the French people.
However, a spokesman at the French Embassy in Washington, Emmanuel Lenain, told CBS News that Ms Bruni was not involved in writing the book.
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