Melania Trump praised as ‘true icon’ over new White House portrait as fans compare it to legendary pic of husband Donald
FIRST Lady Melania Trump’s official portrait has been unveiled, and dazzled fans believe it proves she’s all business in this second term.
Melania showed off her serious side in a smoldering black-and-white photo that called to mind another iconic picture of her husband.
In the portrait, the first lady, 54, is seen leaning forward against a reflective table and gazing intensely at the camera in front of a picturesque Washington DC backdrop.
Her hair is flowing gracefully in loose curls, and she’s wearing a black tuxedo with a cummerbund that matches her husband Donald’s iconic look.
Her intense portrait matched the tone of Trump’s, as he was captured in a close-up shot making his iconic eyebrow raised look.
However, fans were reminded of another picture of Trump, as she stole nearly the same pose from the frame.
In his 2017 photoshoot, Trump was captured leaning against the desk in the Oval Office with a business-like look that makes the viewer fear they’re getting fired.
One fan thought the copycat pose was a fun nod to Trump’s picture that also showed off Melania’s beauty.
“Melania’s picture is a more graceful, yet serious, version of Trump’s picture,” the fan said on X.
Other supporters were wowed by Melania’s portrait and said it secures her spot as a “true icon.”
One person wrote, “I like it. She is showing her tough side, and that’s good.”
Another excited fan believed the picture could be a tease at what Melania’s next four years will look like.
“This photo suggests the first lady might be on track to take a more visible role in this administration. Good,” they wrote.
Melania’s been showing off her high fashion side since Inauguration Day on January 20.
For the inaugural ceremonies, she wore a bizarre boater-style hat that concealed most of her face throughout the day.
But later in the day, she stunned in a black and white gown that left fans speechless.
TikTok, gender debate & JFK truth – the rest of Trump’s to-do list
BY Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
JFK ASSASSINATION
Trump promised to uncover a slew of classified documents on the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King.
During his first term Trump did release some documents related to the fatal shooting of JFK in Dallas, Texas, 1963.
King and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated in 1968.
“In the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr Martin Luther King Jr and other topics of great public interest,” he said the day before his Inauguration.
Trump has not specified what kind of documents he hopes to release, but the JFK assassination in particular has been a long-term source of debate in the US.
A widespread conspiracy theory has suggested the involvement of the federal government or CIA in orchestrating and covering up his death.
TIKTOK BAN
Trump has hit repeatedly hit out at the plans to ban TikTok in the US – a wildly popular social media app with some 170million American users.
After national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership, the app was briefly shut down across the country.
But mere hours after Trump promised to reinstate it after taking office, American users were able to get back online.
The app “welcomed back” American yesterday, lauding Trump as the reason for its return even before his official return to the Oval Office.
He then extended a 90-day period to keep it running.
GENDER DEBATE
Trump has previously vowed to reinstate a ban on transgender military service – something he brought in during his first term which Biden later axed.
He said at a rally in December: “With the stroke of my pen, on day one, we’re going to stop the transgender lunacy.”
He is also expected to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, saying: “And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high school.
“And we will keep men out of women’s sports. And that will likewise be done on Day One.”
CLIMATE CRUNCH
Trump has also promised to look at cost of living efforts and visit Los Angeles in the wake of recent devastating wildfires.
And he is expected to overturn President Biden’s climate policies – including on the regulation of pollution or green job efforts.
It could also stretch to a ban on new wind projects or electric vehicle mandates.
He has already pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement – just as he did in 2017, before Biden rejoined in 2021.
The first lady has already played a key role in Trump’s administration, as she joined him on trips to North Carolina and California.
On Friday, she visited Hurricane Helene victims before Trump axed bureaucratic rules that he said were preventing locals from getting roads fixed.
And later that same day, she shook hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom as they talked about recovering from the Los Angeles fires.
Melania’s latest portrait differs from some of her predecessors.
For example, Michelle Obama’s was a simpler picture of her smiling in a plain black dress.
Meanwhile, Rosalynn Carter, who served in 1977, looked joyful in front of a bouquet of flowers and a painting.