Melania Trump released her official first lady photo the next day after her husband’s inauguration and it’s already become one of the most heated topics on the Internet.
The last time we saw Melania Trump pose as a first lady was in 2017. Back then it was a dreamy portrait taken in color, bright and vivid, with a barely-there smile gracing her face.
She was criticized for wearing Dolce & Gabbana, but other than that, the photo oozed warmth and openness with the first lady smiling gently. Boy, have things changed in 2025!
Looking at the current photo of Melania Trump, we get transported into the world of business and power. It’s shot in grayscale, giving off a very stern vibe.
The first lady’s gaze is prickly and her pose, although open, is nearly judgemental, urging the viewer to come at her.
It seems like a typical power pose, her hands pressed into the mirror-like surface of the table, and yet it tells us too many things in the way it’s shot with the Washington Monument towering in the back.
It feels almost as if the first lady is both analyzing us and taunting us while being in total power and command of everything that’s going on around her.The photo was shot by Régine Mahaux, an artist who has been photographing the Trump family for over 20 years now. Naturally, none of the artistic decisions, from color to pose and style, were accidental, and pretty much everyone can feel the picture oozing power, with a vibe close to that of a warning.
While the photo looks sleek in its own right, how did the viewers take it? It turns out, there are numerous opinions about the picture, and not everyone was happy with such a blunt and cold style.
Ellie Violet Bramley, a fashion writer, spoke for hundreds of netizens when she pointed out that the portrait looked nothing like a traditional representation of the first lady that should soften the image of the president, adding a more gentle touch.
On the contrary, this photo looks edgy and tells a story of corporate power and dominance.
If you head to Melania Trump’s profile on Instagram, where the photo is posted, you’ll find people more than just a little unhappy with her visuals and the message behind it.
Some users hint that the first lady can only look good in photos and nothing more.
“All dressed up and nothing to do and no competencies. Sad.” – @1mountain.2dog
Others inadvertently started comparing Melania Trump with other first ladies who were famous for their style and fashion choices, hinting that this photo in particular is lacking in many aspects.
“Michelle Obama had class. Jackie Kennedy had class. This one…well. – @wheretonextlinda
Lots of people thought this image was generated by AI because it looked lifeless and too glossy, just like something a machine would create. It’s hard for them to connect to this photo, even though it doesn’t look bad. They point out that it has “zero energy, zero joy”, without an emotion they could relate to.
“Exactly my thoughts…ZERO energy zero joy, looks like super weak AI. – @schwartz.jones
One of the most liked comments compared Mrs. Trump’s photo to a stock image of a corporate CEO, and we can easily see why. Just like with images created by AI, stock photos look too generic and don’t invoke too many emotions.
“Why does she look like a stock photo for a wanna be corporate CEO? – @daraflynn
Some users noted Melania Trump looked like she could run the country better than her husband, hinting that she looked too masculine in the photo wearing a tuxedo suit.
There were a bunch of people who used this Instagram post as a reminder that it was time to unfollow the first lady.
While this might seem like an overreaction, it seems dozens, if not hundreds, of users unsubscribed from her account because of this photo alone.
Thank you for the unfollow reminder. Appreciate it. Miss you Jill.: @mrsparty1029
Over on X (former Twitter), users started comparing Melania Trump’s official White House portrait with Claire Underwood from House of Cards. The similarity is uncanny! Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Is it really all just a game to politicians?
In House of Cards, Claire Underwood, the wife of the show’s protagonist, undergoes a series of challenges and eventually becomes president herself.
Is this the message Melania Trump is sending everyone? Well, it certainly looks that way. Journalist Jordan Golson, who’s also on X, agrees that this vibe must have been created deliberately. “The timing feels particularly pointed. After one of the most momentous transitions of power in American history, here’s a portrait that doesn’t just project authority — it practically radiates it.”
Lots of users compared Mrs. Trumps photo with the famous TV show Suits that has a very distinct real estate corporate theme, and this is exactly how this photo feels like.
Of course, there were people who fell in love with this powerful image on the spot, thinking that it was nearly perfect. They complimented Mrs. Trump on looking gorgeous and voiced their support, pointing out that it’s a beautiful shot captured by a talented photographer.
“Melania is the most beautiful and intelligent First Lady to ever represent the United States!”
