Melania Trump visits children’s shelter wearing ‘I don’t care’ jacket
First lady criticised for ‘tone-deaf’ choice of outfit
Melania Trump has made an unannounced visit to a Texas centre housing children separated from their parents after arriving illegally in the US.
“I want to thank you for your hard work, your compassion and your kindness,” the first lady said during a meeting with workers at the Upbring New Hope Children’s Shelter, which currently houses around 60 children. “I’d also like to ask you how I can help reunite these children with their families as quickly as possible.”
But her words were overshadowed by her choice of outfit.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump was photographed wearing a green coat with the phrase “I really don’t care. Do u?” on the back, as she travelled to and from Texas. It was, says the BBC, a “pretty tone-deaf” decision.
As photographs of the jacket spread through social media, some attempted to work out what sort of message the notoriously image-conscious first lady was trying to send.
“She’s a former model,” fashion consultant Bob Phipps told The New York Times. “Every piece of clothing has statement and purpose. She’s all about image, and so is Trump. She knows the power.”
Trump’s communications director Stephanie Grisham played down the incident, saying: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Did Alex Pretti’s killing open a GOP rift on guns?Talking Points Second Amendment groups push back on the White House narrative
-
The 8 best hospital dramas of all timethe week recommends From wartime period pieces to of-the-moment procedurals, audiences never tire of watching doctors and nurses do their lifesaving thing
-
‘Implementing strengthened provisions help advance aviation safety’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal