Melania Trump has drawn attention for the outfit she wore to a memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter.
Trump joined former President Bill Clinton and past first ladies Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, as well President and first lady Joe and Jill Biden, to pay respects to Rosalynn Carter at her memorial service Tuesday afternoon. Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, died at the age of 96 on November 19 at her Plains, Georgia, home.
Melania’s outfit at the service quickly sparked controversy about whether it was appropriate to wear to a memorial. She was seen wearing a gray coat, with a black dress underneath. Critics argued she should have opted to not wear the gray coat, instead only wearing black, viewed as the most traditional color of grieving, for the occasion.
Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, however, told Newsweek Tuesday afternoon that Melania Trump’s outfit was appropriate for a funeral.
Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images
“It would be a different story if Melania Trump wore hot pink, or bright red, but rather she chose a somber gray, which is a perfectly acceptable color for funerals,” she said.
“Her choice of outfit was conservative and respectful. People are looking watchfully to find something to criticize, even when the criticism is not warranted, which probably has more to do with other issues, rather than Melania’s outfit.
Still, many on social media took issue with the outfit.
“She might as well have ‘I really don’t care, do you?’ on the back of that coat,” wrote filmmaker and producer Andy Ostroy in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“EVERYONE wears black, especially at a funeral like Rosalynn Carter’s, but not Melania Trump. She wears gray. She stands out like the sore thumb that she is, God forbid she should ever set foot in the oval office again,” wrote X user @ableraces.
“She decided NOT to wear her ‘I really don’t care’ jacket, but it still feels like she’s wearing one. Couldn’t find any black clothes? SMDH,” wrote @mmpadellan, a popular liberal-leaning X account.
She decided NOT to wear her “I really don’t care” jacket, but it still feels like she’s wearing one.
Couldn’t find any black clothes?
SMDH.— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) November 28, 2023
“I’m watching the beautiful memorial service of a magnificent, gracious, caring first lady Rosalynn Carter. Everyone, including present and former first ladies are wearing black except the most ungracious first lady we’ve ever had. Melania was wearing light gray,” wrote X user @maggielib5.
Others praised her attendance.
“Good for Melania Trump to pay her respects,” posted attorney George Conway, a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump.
“Melania Trump made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, taking part in a time-honored tradition bestowed on all first ladies. She showed class and poise,” wrote X profile @ConservBrief.
Newsweek reached out to Melania Trump through Donald Trump’s campaign for comment via email.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.