Melania Trump’s decision to personally visit a shelter was overshadowed by her peculiar clothing choice—a $39 jacket from Zara featuring a divisive message: ‘I really don’t care. Do U?’ This choice drew widespread criticism, with many accusing her of being tone-deaf given the sensitive situation where numerous children remained separated from their detained parents and guardians attempting to enter the US.
Stephanie Grisham, a top aide to the first lady, revealed that upon their return to the White House from the trip, Trump summoned her and Melania to the Oval Office. There, he reportedly ‘yelled at them’ and decided that the official explanation for the jacket would be that Melania was addressing the media directly.
Melania supported her husband’s narrative, later stating in an ABC News interview that the message was directed at ‘the people and the left-wing media who are criticizing me.’ She asserted that she wanted to demonstrate her resilience against criticism and that the jacket wasn’t worn for the children but as part of her travel attire, emphasizing that the media’s obsession led her to put it back on after the visit.
However, some Trump administration officials contradicted this explanation, claiming that the jacket’s message was intended for ‘the Trumps—specifically, the president’s eldest daughter, Ivanka.’ Melania and Ivanka, throughout their White House years, were said to be engaged in a subtle competition for press coverage, reflecting Melania’s disapproval of Trump’s children participating in White House affairs.
This incident was not the only instance where Melania used her clothing to convey a message. At her husband’s State of the Union address in January 2018, she wore a white pantsuit—a symbol associated with suffragists and contemporary women’s empowerment. This appearance marked the first public appearance of the Trumps together since news broke of Donald Trump’s alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, purportedly occurring shortly after Melania gave birth to Barron (which Trump has denied).
Melania also attracted attention during her solo trip to Africa when she wore a white pith helmet—a symbol of colonial rule. Additionally, during a visit to the pyramids, she essentially staged a fashion show, posing in a pantsuit and tie.
In response to the focus on her attire, Melania expressed a rare public sentiment, stating, ‘I wish people would focus on what I do, not what I wear.’ These instances underline Melania Trump’s use of fashion as a form of communication, conveying her stance on various issues and engaging in subtle symbolic gestures throughout her time in the White House.
