In the same week President Donald Trump started in on his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, First Lady Melania Trump has popped up on the cover of Vanity Fair Mexico’s February issue.
The timing is strange to say the least. But there are other oddities about it that observers have derided:
The cover image shows the first lady in a pose that makes her appear to be eating jewelry. Also, the teaser text on the cover suggests that Mrs. Trump may be the next Jackie Kennedy — and that’s a big maybe.
The photo and interview are actually repurposed from from a spread that was published in GQ magazine last spring. (Both are publishing company Conde Nast properties.)
After receiving online vitriol over the cover, Vanity Fair Mexico tweeted (translated from Spanish): “No, this is not a flattery story. We invite you to read the preview of this report on Melania Trump.”
https://twitter.com/VanityFairMX/status/824725741908717570
Here is a survey of reactions seen on Twitter:
wrong on so many levels! why is #MelaniaTrump eating jewelry out of a bowl – on the cover of Vanity Fair Mexico? #VanityFail pic.twitter.com/9gvETcNNxS
— Bernhard Steiner (@bernhardsteiner) January 27, 2017
Nothing says ‘FOR THE ORDINARY FOLKS,’ quite like eating a bowl of jewellery #MELANIATRUMP @VanityFair pic.twitter.com/JEuOPdeJqH
— Ian Murphy (@iMurphed) January 27, 2017
https://t.co/cVln0UeveK @FLOTUS u will never be like Jackie Kennedy. She had class. U never will. R u 4getting ur porn pictures
— Okie ??’? #Imwithher❄ (@otono60) January 27, 2017
On the day Mexico’s president cancels a meeting w Trump, Vanity Fair Mexico puts Melania on cover about her plans to be a new Jackie Kennedy https://t.co/8HIPlNxIc8
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) January 26, 2017
Well isn’t that ironic… amid the tension, Melania Trump to appear on Vanity Fair Mexico cover… https://t.co/JCG3sGJPOn
— Buck Burnette (@BuckBurnette) January 27, 2017
¡Oh oh! Is it a message? It’s seems that she is eating chains! ???? “Melania Trump, la portada de Vanity Fair México” https://t.co/O8gsThfAGx
— ConCienCita (@NicoliRuth) January 27, 2017
Melania Trump is pretending to eat a diamond necklace like it’s spaghetti on the cover of Vanity Fair Mexico. pic.twitter.com/PRUfmOQEOg
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 27, 2017
The magazine’s release came on Thursday, just one day after Trump signed executive orders to grow border patrol enforcement and also take first steps to build that wall.
But before you go thinking Vanity Fair is a pro-Trump media organization, just know they think the wall is as “ridiculous” as do a whole lot of other people.
How Trump could actually, possibly get Mexico to pay for his ridiculous border wall https://t.co/uHtX2CoCgg
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) January 17, 2017