After nitpicking her inauguration look, netizens are now discussing Melania Trump’s new official portrait, which is very different from her first one back in 2017.
Earlier today, January 28, 2025, the Facebook account for US First Lady Melania Trump unveiled her official White House portrait. Experts have shared reflections on the nuances of the striking, widely discussed image, providing context as to what it represents.
The striking black-and-white composition immediately commands attention. With a poised yet authoritative stance, Melania leans forward, placing both hands firmly on a reflective glass table, exuding confidence and control. She wore a tailored black suit, including a structured blazer paired with a crisp white button-up shirt and high-waisted trousers.
Her long, wavy hair cascaded effortlessly over one shoulder, framing her chiseled features, while her makeup remained understated, with defined brows and subtly accentuated eyes adding to the overall polished look.
Behind her, the grand windows of the White House offer a glimpse of the Washington Monument, its presence subtly reinforcing the historical weight of the moment. The natural light filtering through the glass cast a soft glow on her face, enhancing the contrast between her dark ensemble and the luminous backdrop.
After the White House portrait was revealed, online discussions erupted, with netizens expressing a wide range of opinions. Several users commented on her eyes, with one exclaiming, “Those eyes……….!!!” while another observed, “Wow! Those eyes tell me she is serious.”
Others took a more critical approach to voicing their thoughts, pointing out what they believed to be a harsh expression. “Yikes she looks so mean!” opined one person. Similarly, someone else said, “That look on her Face…if [sic] looks could kill.”
Many netizens also referenced an uncanny resemblance between Melania and her husband, US President Donald Trump. “I swear she’s looking more and more like her husband,” noted an observer.
Another questioned, “Why am I seeing a Donald Trump hard eye glare??” while someone else remarked, “She looks like a female version of her husband.”
On the flip side, a supporter swooned, “Beautiful and classy!!” However, a skeptic questioning the authenticity of the image asserted, “So photoshopped, does not even look like her.”
The person responsible for the widely debated portrait is someone deeply familiar with her subject. Régine Mahaux, a Belgian photographer with over two decades of experience photographing the Trump family, was once again entrusted with the responsibility of creating Melania’s official White House portrait.
Having previously shot the First Lady’s 2017 portrait during Donald’s first term, Régine expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to do so again in a recent interview. Beyond her longstanding professional relationship with the Trumps, Régine also emphasized Melania’s personal investment in the creative process.
She described working with her as a privilege, noting that the First Lady’s perfectionism and hands-on approach played a key role in shaping the final image.
Experts analyzing Melania’s newly unveiled portrait have noted the carefully curated nuances within the composition—elements that subtly yet powerfully shape the message it conveys.
According to them, her assertive stance, with fingertips placed firmly on a reflective glass table, projects a sense of authority and purpose.Similarly, the pose appears to signal a readiness to engage with the responsibilities of the First Lady, a role that traditionally blends advocacy and public service with the ceremonial duties of White House hostess.
Melania’s undeniable ease in front of the camera is another defining aspect of the portrait, a quality attributed not only to her years as a model but also to her longstanding professional relationship with Régine.Having worked together for more than two decades, Régine is someone the First Lady deeply trusts—an essential factor in capturing an image that embodies confidence, composure, and timeless elegance.
However, the portrait is not simply a declaration of power; it also maintains an air of distance. Experts point out that, despite the commanding pose, Melania has strategically positioned herself behind the ultra-polished table, creating a subtle but noticeable boundary between herself and the viewer.
The choice reflects an element of restraint, reinforcing the aura of mystery and inscrutability that has long characterized her public persona.
When placed side by side, Melania’s 2025 White House portrait stands in contrast to the one taken during her initial tenure as First Lady.Experts analyzing the two images have pointed out the subtle yet significant shifts in tone, composition, and symbolism—each capturing a different facet of Melania’s evolving public image.
In her 2017 portrait, Melania Trump exuded a softer elegance. With a gentle half-smile, parted lips, and a warm, glowing backdrop, the image carried an air of accessibility and approachability. The soft focus further accentuated this effect, lending a polished, almost ethereal quality to her presence.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the transformation is striking. The warm hues have been replaced with a stark black-and-white palette. Gone is the subtle warmth of her expression—her lips now firmly set, her gaze direct, unwavering, and undeniably intense.
Experts have noted that while eye contact can often signal openness, in this portrait, it reads more as a statement of strength rather than an invitation for accessibility.Another notable shift is in location. In her previous portrait, the background was more abstract, making it difficult to tie the image to a specific place. This time, the Washington Monument stands unmistakably behind her, visually reinforcing her presence in the heart of political power.
The message is clear—she is firmly in Washington, not New York or Mar-a-Lago, embracing her role in a way that appears far more intentional than before.The recent comments made about Melania’s portrait come after netizens scrutinized the outfit she wore for Donald’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. The ensemble was designed by fashion powerhouse Adam Lippes.
The First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) turned heads in a dark navy, tailored double-breasted coat featuring sharp lapels and a structured silhouette.
Her outfit was paired perfectly with black gloves and closed-toe heels. Her bold accessory choice — a wide-brimmed, double-faced wool boater hat with ivory ribbon — elevated the outfit further, becoming a defining statement piece that captured both admiration and critique online.With her hair tucked neatly beneath the hat, Melania embraced a minimalist yet polished aesthetic for the momentous occasion.
Photos shared online also show Melania and Donald, who wore a suit and a coat, standing on the Capitol steps next to Vice President JD Vance and his wife (Second Lady), Usha Vance.Usha donned a pastel pink coat with a cinched waist and accessorized with gloves and taupe boots, while J.D. opted for a classic black overcoat and red tie — choices that complemented the formal tone of the event.
On the same day as the inauguration, Adam shared an Instagram photo of Melania smiling beside an officer in uniform, providing a closer look at the craftsmanship of her outfit.
Boasting about his creation, Adam captioned, “The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump. Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”
Melania’s striking inauguration outfit garnered swift reactions online, with social media users sharply divided over her ensemble. Many critics were quick to draw comparisons to somber occasions, with one remarking, “Funeral attire.”
Another echoed, “Definitely looks like she’s going to a funeral,” while a third person quipped, “Dressed for a funeral? Well played!”Someone else chimed in with, “Looks like they are attending a funeral,” while a spectator reiterated, “Looks like she’s at a funeral.”
Others focused on the hat that completed her look. One person pondered, “Guess Melania doesn’t want anyone to see her face today – isn’t it impolite to wear a hat indoors????” “Melania’s hat looks ridiculous. That’s all I can think of,” expressed a netizen.
Meanwhile, some critics combined humor with disapproval, as one user compared her appearance to a well-known pop culture character, penning, “Melania looks like Jim Carrey in ‘The Mask!’ What is going on girl!”
Another lamented, “MelaNia [sic] was dressed Inappropriately. Love her Christmas show at the WH. The hat and dress were austere and inappropriate.”
However, not all reactions were negative. “Melania looks incredible!!” gushed a fan, while another praised, “Melania!!! Fabulous 🔥 that hat is everything.” “Melania looks so elegant,” swooned a fellow admirer.
Interestingly, Melania’s widely discussed hat almost didn’t make it to the inauguration, according to Vanity Fair. The hat, designed by Florida-based milliner Eric Javits, endured what was described as a near fiasco in the days leading up to the event.
Eric, who called crafting the hat “one of the greatest honors” of his career, had been approached by Melania’s stylist, Herve Pierre, with a request to create a custom take on one of his summer boater hats — one Melania already owned and loved. Despite typically avoiding custom orders, the designer took on the project with enthusiasm.
Painstakingly hand-sewn using couture techniques, the hat was a true labor of love. Eric revealed that the majority of the seams (92%) were crafted by his own hands, with no other eyes seeing the piece before it was delivered to the First Lady’s team for a final fitting in New York.
However, disaster struck when the package containing the hat arrived crushed and wet, rendering the piece irreparably damaged. In a race against time, Eric crafted a second hat in under four days.
Herve then personally transported the replacement from Miami to Melania, who was staying at Mar-a-Lago in the days leading up to the inauguration.