First Lady of the United States Melania Trump made an appearance at a detention center in Texas on Thursday, at a time when there is much confusion among the public and seemingly the Trump Administration over a policy of separating children from parents at the border. The location was one where children are being housed apart from their parents. While FLOTUS’ visit was praised by some, it was also criticized by others.
Outrage rears its head whenever she campaigns against cyberbullying (given her husband’s tweeting), but peak outrage was also achieved when the first lady was seen wearing heels while boarding a plane headed to a disaster area, namely the city of Houston after Hurricane Harvey hit. This time, the first lady’s own immigration history is being mentioned.
Lawfare executive editor Susan Hennessey, for instance, tweeted something about Melania Trump that’s been gaining a lot of traction on social media.
This is a good time to recall that we have never been given an even remotely satisfactory response to strong evidence that Melania Trump violated US immigration law and that she promised to produced documentary evidence in defense and then never did. https://t.co/K23ZeL02MX
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) June 21, 2018
“This is a good time to recall that we have never been given an even remotely satisfactory response to strong evidence that Melania Trump violated US immigration law and that she promised to produced documentary evidence in defense and then never did,” Hennessey tweeted, before pointing to a Fox News link containing an Associated Press story from 2016 headlined,“Trump’s wife worked illegally during her first weeks in the US, documents show.”
Melania Trump has denied this in the past, saying “I followed the law the way it’s supposed to be” and “I never thought to stay here without papers. I had a visa. I traveled every few months back to the country to Slovenia, to stamp the visa.”
Trump’s attorney Michael Wildes, who reviewed the immigration records in question, would say “[allegations that she worked illegally] are not supported by the record and are therefore completely without merit.”
Hennessey wasn’t the only person mentioning this, however.
Melania Trump: Hi, what did you do?
Kid in Cage: I just came here to seek a better life and violated some immigration laws, i guess.
Melania Trump: THATS WHAT I DID! https://t.co/29aOJcZwuq
— m i t h (@ManInTheHoody) June 21, 2018
Melania Trump,
While you're at the Mexican border, look at those children & parents in their eyes, and remember that you once broke immigration law by seeking employment illegally in America while on a tourist Visa.
Then please admit your hypocrisy & urge your husband to resign
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) June 21, 2018
Nor did the first lady’s jacket choice go unnoticed.
boarding the plane this morning, @FLOTUS wore a @ZARA jacket, olive military style — but it was printed on the back with the phrase "I don't really care. Do U?" An unfortunate sartorial decision …
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) June 21, 2018
FLOTUS spox confirms Mrs. Trump wore a jacket to visit border kids that reads: "I really don't care. Do you?" Spox says: "It's a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn't going to choose to focus on her wardrobe." pic.twitter.com/Bp4Z8n455G
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 21, 2018
And what about the cringeworthy moment someone self-described as 15-year-old is getting a lot of attention for calling the first lady a “crisis actor”?
You want an example of a crisis actor?
Look at Melania Trump.
This is nothing but a publicity stunt.
If she really cared about these kids, she would talk to her husband and work on better immigration reform.
She hasn’t.— Emilia (@PoliticalEmilia) June 21, 2018
The term “crisis actor” was used a lot after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Activist high school students like David Hogg were subsequently accused of being frauds for the media.
“I’m glad I’m here and I’m looking forward to seeing and meeting children,” Melania Trump said of her visit. “I want to thank you for your hard work, your compassion and your kindness. “[I want to] lend support and hear more on how the administration can build upon the already existing efforts to reunite children with their families.”
First Lady Melania Trump: "I'm here to learn about your facility, in which I know you house children on a long term basis. And I'd also like to ask you how I can help these children to reunite with their families as quickly as possible." pic.twitter.com/LgLddG3NJE
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) June 21, 2018
According to the New York Post, Melania Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham this visit was the first lady’s decision.
“Her goals are to thank law enforcement and social services providers for their hard work, lend support and hear more on how the administration can build upon the already existing efforts to reunite children with their families,” the White House said in a statement.
[Image via CNN screengrab]