The fashion selection of First Lady Melania Trump during the 2025 presidential inauguration ceremony received widespread attention and criticism, prompting comparisons to various figures including cartoon characters and pop stars at funerals.
Mrs. Trump’s choice of an ensemble designed by Adam Lippes, comprising a navy silk wool double-breasted coat, a silk wool pencil skirt, and an ivory silk crepe blouse, got immediate reactions. Lippes described the outfit as showcasing “America’s finest craftsmen.” However, social media users offered different interpretations.
The wide-brimmed navy blue hat with a white ribbon, designed by milliner Eric Javits, added to the ensemble’s dramatic effect. It partially obscured Mrs. Trump’s face, prompting suggestions that it might fuel existing “fake Melania” conspiracy theories.
Notable comparisons of her attire included one social media user suggesting she resembled “Michael Jackson at a funeral” and other comparisons to fictional villains and cartoon characters, including “Darkwing Duck.”
The inauguration ceremony, relocated to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to cold temperatures in Washington D.C., marked the return of Donald Trump as the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. Despite performances by Carrie Underwood, Christopher Macchio, and Lee Greenwood, the First Lady’s fashion choice became a major topic of discussion on social media.
The ensemble drew comparisons to the McDonald’s mascot, Hamburglar, with one viewer noting, “All Melania needs is a mask, and she would resemble the Hamburglar.” Other comparisons included “Carmen Sandiego,” “Zorro,” and “the Babadook” from the eponymous horror film.
The contrast between this ensemble and the light blue cashmere dress and cropped jacket by Ralph Lauren that she wore during the 2017 inauguration was noted by fashion observers. The dark color palette of the 2025 Lippes creation, intended to convey “timeless sophistication,” left some questioning if the First Lady was symbolically “in mourning.”
This is not the first time that Melania Trump’s fashion choices have drawn comparisons to Michael Jackson. Her 2018 visit to the Great Sphinx in Giza also prompted similar comments.
The ensemble, described by some as reminiscent of a mobster’s attire, marked a notable departure from traditional inaugural fashion. Despite Lippes’ reputation for sophisticated American sportswear, the outfit’s dark color palette and distinct styling led to widespread commentary rather than admiration.
Mrs. Trump’s recent fashion choices have consistently drawn criticism, including her black and white Valentino dress at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, which critics compared to a nun’s attire. The inaugural outfit continued this trend of controversial styling choices that prioritize dramatic effect over traditional diplomatic dress codes.
Completing the look, Mrs. Trump wore matching navy gloves, which social media users described as part of a “full villain ensemble” with what one user referred to as “cartoon character energy.”