Melania Trump's official portrait as first lady: What it means
Melania Trump (photo: facebook.com/WhiteHouse)
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump became the 47th President of the United States. The whole world watched his inauguration ceremony, especially the outfits of his wife Melania Trump and daughters Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump. And now the White House has unveiled the official portrait of the first lady.
What Melania Trump's portrait looks like
The official portrait of Melania as the first lady appeared on her Instagram page, as well as on the flotus page - First Lady Melania Trump.
It is noteworthy that the photo is in black and white. For this photo, the president's wife chose a strict business suit: a black jacket, high-waisted pants, and a classic white shirt.
The photo was taken in the Yellow Oval Hall. It is worth noting that Melania chose a non-standard pose for the photo: she put her hands on a mirrored table.
In addition, the Washington Monument is visible in the background, towering over the US capital.
This picture was taken a day after Trump was sworn in by photographer Rejin Mao, who has been photographing the Trump family for more than 20 years.
Melania Trump (photo: instagram.com/flotus)
What does the new portrait of the first lady mean
Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, head of the Department of Art History at the University of Pennsylvania, deciphered what Melania's new official photo means.
The First Lady looks confident, restrained, and stylish.
"Her pose, with her fingertips firmly on the mirrored table, seems to indicate a willingness to 'get down to business' and act on the platform provided by the unique role of hostess and defender of the disenfranchised that Americans have historically expected of first ladies," the BBC commentary reads.
In addition, Melania is comfortable in front of the camera, as she is known to have been a model in the past. The message of this photo is that the First Lady has moved from the family quarters to a room directly above the Oval Office.
"She seems poised to wield more power, which she seemed reluctant to accept on her first visit to the White House. And yet she is firmly seated at that ultra-gleaming table, maintaining some boundary between herself and the viewer," the BBC writes.
At the same time, fashion columnist Ellie Violet Bramley believes that the new portrait of Melania contradicts the traditional role of the first lady.
"From the costume to the pose, the new portrait seems carefully crafted to exude a kind of power that seems to contradict the traditional role of the first lady, which is to soften the presidency in the public eye and make it look more human," she said.
Melania and Donald Trump (photo: facebook.com/WhiteHouse)
Melania Trump's portrait in 2017
In addition, many people compared the new portrait of Melania to the one presented 8 years ago, when Trump became the 45th President of the United States. The soft focus, half-smile, and parted lips are gone. In addition, the colors have also disappeared - this time the portrait is in black and white.
It is noteworthy that in 2017, the first lady's portrait appeared three months after the presidential inauguration in April.
Back then, the hostess of the White House chose a black jacket and a matching scarf for the photo.
Melania, crossing her arms over her chest, looked directly into the camera with a restrained smile, and a ring with a huge rectangular diamond sparkled on her left ring finger.
Portrait of the First Lady in 2017 (photo: facebook.com/WhiteHouse)
Earlier, Donald Trump showed a photo from his wedding day with Melania.
We also wrote that the First Lady of the United States bared her shoulders during the inaugural ball.
Sources: Instagram page of First Lady Melania Trump, Facebook page of WhiteHouse, BBC publication.
