Last year September, in the wake of the tragic Hurricane Irma disaster, first lady of the United States Melania Trump opted to wear Manolo Blahnik heels upon visiting shelters in Florida. Massive backlash ensued over what people deemed inappropriate, considering this was a wet, flooded, disaster zone.
Yesterday, Melania donned a Zara parka with the slogan "I Really Don’t Care, Do U?" to visit children at the border amidst Trump's problematic “zero tolerance” immigration policy execution. Again, social media was lit with anger.
READ MORE: Melania Trump sets Twitter alight over choice of shoes when visiting hurricane zone
According to Global News, the first lady’s spokesperson explained that there was no ulterior message, that “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message.”
But President Trump took to Twitter, saying:
“I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2018
So, even if this was a statement made about fake news, was this the right time and place to make it? It's a space of severe pain, separation, and intolerance, not one to cater to your own selfish needs regarding your image in the media.
Wearing this jacket in any other context, fine it's nice, warm, fun. But the tone-deaf nature of this is, quite frankly, almost pompous. Like the Trumps are untouchables.
Here are some Twitter reactions to the jacket:
So @FLOTUS, who likes donning expensive designer clothing (remember the $51K Dolce & Gabbana she wore in Sicily) just happens to wear a cheapo Zara jacket w/ a big fat middle finger type messages to Texas in June. Tell me how this isn't deliberate!
— nasty scientist (@TinaBaumgartne6) June 22, 2018
Not a poor choice.... They are showing people exactly who they are!
— Paula (@Paula35733292) June 22, 2018
Trump tries to shrug off Melania's jacket as celebs lead outrage https://t.co/MFfNpxE25o via @MailOnline
Is everyone in SLEAZY Donald JACKASS Trump's family tone death?
— D Boss1. (@DBoss117) June 22, 2018
They do not know the meaning of EMPATHY.
Melania and her jacket should have stayed in Washington https://t.co/TSeAac31RC
This is why White House employees are a joke. Context matters. And if @FLOTUS’ intent was to send the media a message, she could’ve done it on A DIFFERENT DAY; instead of the day she was visiting kids ripped from their parents’ arms and essentially jailed just cuz they’re brown https://t.co/e7u3ztH6sB
— Efrain R., BSN,RN ????? #BoycottNRA (@zdor17602) June 22, 2018
Crying Children: I want my papa.#MelaniaTrump: I really don’t care, do you?#DonaldTrump: No, I don’t.
— Ashish Tripathi (@trp_ashish) June 22, 2018
Fox News: The main stream media is trying hard to make a big deal out of this. #MelaniaTrump jacket #MelaniaDontCare #MelaniaTrump #DonldTrump pic.twitter.com/NS4DQRq4d4
While the main consensus was that this was a insensitive display by FLOTUS, others disagreed:
I believe it was worn on the plane and not when visiting children. No big deal because it’s meant for the media.
— S. Streit (@scstreit99) June 22, 2018
OMG, @MELANIATRUMP wore a jacket! Big deal! Leave her alone about it. Quit trying 2 find everything wrong with the Trumps. No one's perfect, alright!? Fake news & news stations need 2 f*ck off! #ThoughtOfTheDay News always need 2 find something bcuz they have nothing in the end!
— ¥zavela Narvaez ??? (@Yzavela_) June 21, 2018
READ MORE: Xenophobia and stories of immigration – why they matter more than ever
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