Did Melania Trump wear a rainbow-striped dress for Pride?
Melania and Donald Trump at the July 4 event, “Salute to America” (Sarah Silbiger/Getty)
US First Lady Melania Trump wore a rainbow-striped dress to her husband President Donald Trump’s Independence Day event on July 4, and many people are wondering if it could be a subtle endorsement of LGBT+ Pride.
While Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence opted to wear red, white and blue for the occasion, Melania chose to go her own way with a white, rainbow-striped knitted midi dress by Carolina Herrera.
Given the timing, just days after the end of Pride month, and shortly before many European cities celebrated Pride, many on Twitter are speculating whether Melania’s dress at the high-profile event was an attempt to undermine her husband’s anti-LGBT+ position.
“Good to see Melania Trump wearing her gay pride dress today. We are reminded that some people are still fighting for liberty,” tweeted @MsSamAdams.
“Interesting. Melania has on a white dress with multicoloured stripes. Gay pride? She’s a rebel,” wrote @GFarquart.
@DailyLibber said: “I’d like to think Melania wore rainbow stripes as revenge for not being allowed out of the White House for Pride, but it’s likely she was actually told she had to wait till after Pride Month to wear it so here we are.”
Supporters of Trump were dismissive of the alleged message of her dress. “OHHHHHHHHHHHHH please. Do we have to make everything about being gay? really?” lamented @Sarah_home.
While @Shiloh_2005 said: “I think she just wants to stir the pot and keep media guessing.”
The outfit caused a stir in more ways than one: the unfortunate rainy conditions meant that Melania’s nipples were slightly visible through the dress.
Our gorgeous @FLOTUS, Melania Trump, has twitter buzzing after wearing a rainbow dress with no bra on #IndependenceDay
♥️????#FreeTheNipple #Pride #NoBraSeason #4thofJuly pic.twitter.com/Qlk1c8qDrX
— ANHNDRX✝️☮️??️? (@antiwarmisfit) July 6, 2019
It’s not the first time people have speculated that the notoriously quiet First Lady is sending “hidden messages” through her fashion choices at significant events — although opinion is divided over what she’s actually trying to say.
In 2016, shortly after the recording of Trump boasting about grabbing women “by the pussy” was released, she wore a fuchsia blouse with a pussy bow at the neck.
Two years later in a moment of questionable judgement, she wore a green parka with the words: “I really don’t care, do u?” during a visit to migrant children at the Texas-Mexico border.
“Her choices are considered, and therefore I find it entirely appropriate to read between the lines, or the seams, as it were,” style reporter Elizabeth Holmes told CNN.
