Melania Trump’s choice of jacket sparked a groundswell of backlash as she visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday.
Before her flight to Texas, Melania Trump was seen wearing a Zara jacket with the words “I really don’t care, do u?” emblazoned on the back, as initially reported by the Daily Mail. By the time she arrived, the first lady had changed jackets, but the damage was already done and fervor over the wardrobe quickly swept social media.
“Thank you for your refreshing honesty,” former federal ethics chief Walter Shaub said in a tweet. Several others chimed in with shock and criticism, some wondering aloud whether Trump was indirectly responding to the many vocal detractors of President Donald Trump’s recent policy that separated children from their families at the border.
The first lady’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said there was no message being sent at all, according to ABC reporter Meredith McGraw. “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope this isn’t what the media is going to choose to focus on,” Grisham said.
NEW: @FLOTUS spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham when asked what message the first lady’s jacket intends to send: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope this isn’t what the media is going to choose to focus on.”
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) June 21, 2018
UPDATE: President Trump later tweeted about it, going against Grisham’s statement, saying the jacket’s message “refers to the Fake News Media.”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1009916650622251009
The first lady visited the Upbring New Hope Children’s Center in McAllen, Texas, and the trip was made with the intention to give support to children who have been separated from their parents, Grisham had previously stated, according to the Associated Press. Upbring New Hope Children’s Center helps children who crossed the border unaccompanied, not children who have been taken from their parents.
“She wanted to see everything for herself,” Grisham continued. “She told her staff she wanted to go and we made that happen.”
See reactions below to both her visit to Upbring and her wardrobe choice for the flight.
I mean let’s face it, she doesn’t. #PhotoOP
“Melania Trump made quite the sartorial statement on Thursday when she donned a jacket with the words, 'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' written across the back while boarding a plane to visit immigrant children being held at the border…” pic.twitter.com/DsAf9HVlQO— Maya Contreras (@mayatcontreras) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/GraceParra360/status/1009866958546694144
I think we were undervaluing pictures when we said they were worth 1000 words. This is Melania Trump wearing a jacket that says "I Really Don't Care, Do U?" pic.twitter.com/pqPRemmuCb
— molly tanzer, idea slumlord (@wickedmilkhotel) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/riotwomennn/status/1009864657438420993
Today's news:
Trump throws starbursts at Angela Merkel during G-7
Melania wears a jacket to visit kidnapped migrant children that says "I really don't care, do you?"
Its costing taxpayers almost $800 per night for our gov't to kidnap kids
Be proud @GOP
— Alt Fed Employee (@Alt_FedEmployee) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/spettypi/status/1009866451744952321
The jacket that FLOTUS had on as she boarded the plane for Texas: a $39 Zara military jacket that said in large print on the back, "I really don't care, do u?" https://t.co/kNYAIGcdlm
— Francesca Chambers (@fran_chambers) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1009836699680157697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fblog-briefing-room%2F393482-ex-ethics-chief-melania-trumps-press-conference-at-migrant-shelter-a
https://twitter.com/rmayemsinger/status/1009845669874450432
https://twitter.com/PoliticalEmilia/status/1009848457060745216
Where are the babies and the girls? If @FLOTUS demands open access to them, then she's been helpful. Otherwise she just making these children's situation worse by spreading propaganda.
— ?Dr. Eleni D. Kring (@EleniKring) June 21, 2018
Melania visited a child detention center for children who crossed the border unaccompanied. This is not a detention center with children who were separated from their parents.
Melania is whitewashing this scandal for good PR.
— Denizcan S. (@MrFilmkritik) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/PoliticalEmilia/status/1009848206258155520
Check out crisis actor Melania Trump pic.twitter.com/0bwfjbmiWQ
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) June 21, 2018
Melania Trump just visited a CHILD INTERNMENT CAMP and turned it into a fucking photo-op for her husband who is guilty of kidnapping and abusing children. These people (the Trumps) have no soul.
— Ryan Knight ☭? (@ProudSocialist) June 21, 2018
|@FLOTUS THANK YOU for showing up and asking how these children will be reunited with their families! Please help find the girls and babies.
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) June 21, 2018
@chrislhayes @maddow @NicolleDWallace @Lawrence PLEASE FOCUS ON WHY MELANIA DID NOT VISIT GIRLS AND INFANTS! Her visit was useless and self-serving
— Becca Brettschneider (@BeccaBretts) June 21, 2018
I have some questions. https://t.co/qkBwjyQ6s9
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 21, 2018