Melania Trump’s New $245 Necklace Sparks Mockery

Melania Trump announcing the sale of a new customizable necklace on her website has been met with a wave of criticism and mockery on social media.

On Sunday, the former first lady took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce the unveiling of her Mother’s Day necklaces selling for $245 apiece.

“Let’s honor and celebrate all mothers with love and gratitude,” the former model and wife of Donald Trump wrote on the micro-blogging platform, three weeks ahead of Mother’s Day.

The post was accompanied by a link to Melania Trump’s website, where the necklace in question was shown in its full glory. The jewelry item is described as a “customizable necklace designed by Melania Trump to honor all mothers.”

“Each necklace can be engraved with names, initials, or significant dates to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry,” an official blurb states. “Those who purchase Her Love & Gratitude can also receive a limited-edition digital collectible.”

The former model’s “signature is included on each necklace,” the site informs visitors. “The flower pendant measures 1 inch, includes a 16-18 inch adjustable chain, and is made in gold vermeil.”

“Being a mother is one of the most important roles in life. For this Mother’s Day, I have designed the ‘Her Love & Gratitude’ necklace to express immense gratitude and honor all mothers,” Melania Trump said in a statement on Sunday.

Melania Trump’s venture was met with a wave of derision on X, where a number of users questioned the pricing of the newly unveiled necklace. Newsweek has contacted a representative of Donald Trump via email for comment.

Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, a one-time ally who has since become a prominent critic of the presidential hopeful, compared Melania Trump’s new venture to the offerings from the luxury brand Van Cleef and Arpels.

“Just like the ⁦@vancleefarpels⁩ frivole; except not made of gold,” Cohen commented. “Melania Trump Is Now Selling $245 Mother’s Day Necklaces.”

Ron Filipkowski, a former federal prosecutor and vocal Donald Trump critic, quipped: “Melania Trump is now selling a Mother’s Day necklace for the bargain price of just $245 that comes with her name engraved on it.”

“$250 for vermeil? Are you kidding me?” one detractor wrote. “And why is your signature so huge… [it’s] larger [than] the engravings for our loved ones? Heck, you really think highly of yourself if you think we’d want your signature to be larger than the names of our children. Grifters gonna grift I guess?”

One X user characterized the necklaces as “repurposed St. Patrick’s Day pendants made from cheap metal,” while another said: “This is worth about $6.”

Former NBC senior executive Mike Sington opined that the “grift never stops with this family,” as he shared a screenshot from Melania Trump’s website.

“We never hear from Melania, not that I’m complaining, until it’s time for her to sell something for profit,” another chimed in. “Is she donating the revenue to a women’s shelter or charity? Of course not, she’s grifting off Mother’s Day, $245 dollar necklace, and it’s disgusting.”

Amid the derisive comments, a number of other X users expressed support for Melania Trump.

“God Bless you Melania,” wrote one supporter. “Mothers should be celebrated always…. We love our mothers.”

“We honor and love YOU Melania,” stated another.

Another suggested that everybody should “all hold hands and celebrate all mothers with love and gratitude!! Thank you Melania.”

Donald Trump has faced strong reactions to the various products he has sold in recent months. The former president last month urged his supporters to buy the God Bless the USA Bible; the title of which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad of the same name.

The book, priced at $59.99, includes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and the handwritten chorus to God Bless the USA.

At the time, Donald Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Newsweek that those outraged by the Bible venture were “Never Trump idiots suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

In February, the former star of The Apprentice promoted limited edition gold Trump-branded sneakers for $399. He has also sold digital trading cards that portrayed him in cartoon-like images as several characters, including a superhero, astronaut, and NASCAR driver.

Donald Trump’s latest business ventures have come amid mounting costs from his various legal cases, including his ongoing hush money trial. The real estate mogul has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to so-called hush money he arranged for his then-lawyer Cohen to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair she had with the former president a secret ahead of the 2016 election.

The money was listed in the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee’s company records as “legal fees,” which prosecutors suggest was part of an unlawful attempt to influence the outcome of the 2016 race. Donald Trump admitted to reimbursing the $130,000 to Cohen, but denies all wrongdoing, saying that the trial is part of a political witch hunt aimed at derailing his White House bid.

Donald Trump made history on April 15 when he became the first former president in U.S. history to appear in court facing criminal prosecution. The jury has now been seated in the historical trial, with proceedings continuing on Monday with opening statements and the first witnesses’ testimonies.