If your husband is a Nazi, is it a good idea to dress up in colonialist outfits and “invade” the African continent? I don’t know. But Melania Trump is trying. I just spent about five minutes looking through photos of Melania’s first solo international tour, and I just have to say… this bitch is on vacation. It’s not surprising or anything, but you’d think someone would have told her, “Hey can you NOT dress up as Colonialist Oppressor Barbie on your taxpayer-funded vacation?” These particular photos are from Melania’s trip to the Nairobi National Park in Kenya. Melania went there to see the elephants. She wore a pith helmet.
First Lady Melania Trump is catching heat yet again over her clothing choice. On Friday, while visiting a safari in Nairobi National Park in Kenya — a stop on her first solo trip to Africa — FLOTUS was photographed wearing a white pith helmet, a hat most commonly associated with colonialists. In the 19th and 20th centuries, European military personnel often wore pith helmets as they sought out colonies in Africa and Asia. The hats remained popular with those who moved to colonized countries and are seen by many as symbolic of the oppression of colonization.
Shortly after the sighting, several people called Melania out on Twitter. “Melania Trump wearing a pith helmet on her trip to ‘Africa’ is more than a silly sartorial choice. It’s a reflection of her outdated understanding of Africa,” Kim Yi Dionne, a political-science professor who specializes in African politics at the University of California, Riverside wrote. “Also, she was photographed in safari attire multiple times on this trip,” Dionne added.
Matt Carotenuto, a historian and coordinator of African Studies at St. Lawrence University wrote, “Melania completes the stereotype trifecta– elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet.”
I agree – earlier, CB and I were joking about Mel’s tablecloth dress and I theorized that Melania wore that dress because she believed that her stripes would look vaguely tribal. She didn’t do any research for this trip – because it’s her vacation – so of course she just went with the most ignorant stereotypes of “how to dress while in Africa.” She probably watched Out of Africa and left it at that. Anyway, Melania heard the criticism and she had some sh-t to say:
Speaking to press in Egypt while finishing up her solo, four-country African tour on Saturday, the First Lady addressed the controversial white pith helmet she had worn while embarking on a safari in Nairobi National Park in Kenya. The hat piqued some observers, who noted that the helmet is frequently associated with European colonizers of Africa and India.
“You know what, we just completed an amazing trip. We went to Ghana, we went to Malawi, Kenya, here we are in Egypt. I want to talk about my trip and now what about what I wear,” Trump told reporters. “It’s very important what we do, what I’m doing with U.S. aid, and what I do with my initiatives, and I wish people would focus on what I do, not what I wear.”
I’m surprised she didn’t huff, “I’m on vacation, g–damn it, I DON’T REALLY CARE, DO U?” I love how indignant she is about ALL she’s doing: “It’s very important what we do, what I’m doing with U.S. aid.” Girl, you aren’t doing anything. If anything, your presence hurts whatever cause you pretend to help.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Watched the news clip of her with the baby elephants. All I could think of is which one of her creepy zombie stepsons might have orphaned that animal.
@rbc – excellent point.
That’s the first and only thing I came here to say: if she’s so “concerned” tell Usay and Urday to stop shooting them.
Exfuckingzactly.
You nailed it. She’s an idiot. Hypocritical, tone-deaf, condescending, disengaged woman cares about herself and her son, and that seems to be about it. I’ve strongly disliked other presidents, but I’ve never hated them, and especially have never despised their families, the way I hate the grifting, toxic Trump crime family. Thanks so much to Trump voters, our outmoded electoral college, Russia, and the GOP for screwing over the majority of us. And for screwing over a lot of ignorant Trump voters, too. MAGA, my ass.
She doesn’t do ANYTHING of value, so of course we talk about what she wears. It’s a bit rich for this former “model” to be so upset when we talk about her clothing choice…
Yeah, pretty rich coming from the woman who wore the “I DON’T CARE DO U?” jacket to visit the child concentration camps. 🤬🙄
my first thought also.
Let me remind everyone her publicist literally said, “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message,” Seriously? The JACKET HAD WORDS. ugh. So gas-lightY.
These aren’t clothing choices. She’s wearing costumes.
Yeah, & her outfit for her visit to the pyramids was similarly costumey. And there really was no point other than a nice vacay for her. In s***hole countries, of course.
This woman is just plain stupid!!!!! She shouldn’t get any press!
“Stop picking on me! Stop picking on me!”
Ah but who else but a shallow, insensitive, self-centered, materialistic and racist person would have married DT at that point in his life and stayed with him thus far.
She’s pure trash, just like her husband. I’m offended that this uneducated sleaze is even called a First Lady. She does nothing but cost taxpayers money.
As an artist, this whole WH is just cracker barrel cheese level offensive in words action and, (Oh now I’m ill) style. I truly was sick after eating cracker barrel cheese as a kid, so this whole admin, thong/fur wearing thing included, is just PUTINSTYLE poor taste.
Yes and #presidentmiller chose these outfits, I bet. How to offend and feign indignant.
Be best, Safari Barbie!
Yep, and additionally, “Be Best” is such an embarrassing misuse of English grammar. Melania’s aides should have corrected it for her, since English is not her native tongue. It’s pretty basic: positive, comparative, superlative. As the superlative of “good” (positive = good; comparative = better, superlative = best) the rules of English require a positive article to precede it. (“the best”, or “your best”, whatever.) But “Be Best” is vague and literally means nothing. It doesn’t make grammatical sense. Be good. Be better. Be the best. Or, Be your best. I would prefer “your best,” since “be THE best” is so competitive that it reverts right back to the bullying she is supposedly so against.
Our taxes are paying for this woman’s FLOTUS initiatives and for the publicity promo materials supporting them. You would think somebody there would know the basic rules of grammar. But this is the reign of the Orange Ignoramus, so…
High five, fellow grammar nerd! 🧐 Great post!
Melania seems to take her dressing inspiration form a collection of 80s Vogues… she always look so ill at ease in her clothes, like she’s picking them to fit some sort of paint by numbers “classy lady jet set” framework.
It’s a perfect illustration of how money cannot buy elegance.
LOL very true – she does try to dress like a Vogue editorial.
Haha When I saw this on the news I thought she looked like she was doing an old school photo shoot for Vogue.
Nah, it’s not Out of Africa, it’s Nazi Rene Belloq from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
https://twitter.com/santainc/status/1048588491427274752?s=21
I thought Raiders too. And Rachel Weisz in The Mummy for her costume in Egypt.
My god, how dumb can one be?
I would just call her an idiot but I think all of this shit is intentional.
I agree. This bitch is calculated.
Yes! The greatest trick this despicable family ever pulled was convincing the world they’re merely dumb and/or ill advised instead of intentionally malicious.
Trumpets and MAGAts brag that Malaria cut the staff in the Office of the First Lady down to 9 from Michelle Obama’s 24, as if Michelle having a full staff was somehow a horrible thing. Never mind that Michelle’s staff was the same size of at least 5 of her predecessors, all of whom did tons more work than lazy Malaria. Within the staffing that Malaria eliminated were the protocol officers, whose job was to ensure that the administration not embarrass the country by wearing the wrong clothes and saying the wrong things when dealing with other nations. As a result of this stupidity, we have seen this pro-colonial insult in Africa, Malaria and Bride of Beetlejus Nagini insulting the Pope, Malaria’s butt while visiting the Queen and her ridiculous Beauty and the Beast get up to dinner with Theresa May, and an assortment of verbal insults as the whole gang address world leaders by the wrong titles and even the wrong names.
Good points, LightPurple. And see my scree, above, about her expensive and ungrammatical “Be Best” campaign. Surely one of her nine aides has some background in English grammar. Wtf are we taxpayers paying for?
She looks like something straight out of a 1950s movie in that pith hat.
Not exaggerating, my mouth hung open for a good 5 minutes when I saw this. I couldn’t speak. I’ve been to Nairobi and to many safaris around Kenya and NO ONE dresses like this. This is absolutely insane.
Really?
I was in Sri Lanka earlier this year and saw literally dozens of white people dressed in safari gear. Same experience in South Africa a coupe of years ago. Germans, Russians, Brits, Americans – all in the same stereotypical khakhi shorts/trousers, safari hats etc.
Yes, really. I was in Kenya for a month and people dressed however they would normally dress.
I’m traveling in Asia at the moment, and whilst you do see a lot of travelers in those khaki-style outfits, I have NEVER seen someone in a pith hat. How about wearing some clothes made by modern African designers from the countries she was traveling to? Or show-casing some clothing by African-American designers who are influenced by African fashions?
SO typical of her and her team to be lazy and stereotypical and to view other countries only through the lense of how they are portrayed in western popular culture.
Is she that ignorant or is she doing this to distract from the actions of her incompetent supervillan husband ?All I can say is I REALLY DON’T CARE DO YOU?
I think she is just ignorant. She doesn’t strike me as an educated and/or curious person. I’ve followed her on social media long before she became the First Lady and there never has been anything to indicate that she likes to read or educate herself. All she ever posted were flowers, sandy beaches and latest fashion buys. I can see how someone like her tries to theme dress, watches “Out of Africa” and doesn’t put two and two together.
Yes she is ignorant, but that doesn’t remove culpability, IMO. Someone with her resources has to choose to be ignorant. They have to purposely ignore most of the information coming at them to preserve their tiny, warped, ignorant worldview. Willful ignorance is choosing yourself over everything else, not caring about anything or anyone else. It’s despicable in general, and it’s monstrous when it’s the basis of power. “Ignorant” is too good a description for Malaria.
She is as complicit as the others in this fiasco and deserves all the bad karma that’s coming. If she was smart she would divorce him soon to lock down and protect her assets because Mueller is already starting to collect Manafort’s things, including his place at the tower of traitors. The tax evasion story will lead to further investigation of the current situation and you can bet the IRS is going to see the same things still happening.
You are so right, Nic919. She plays the game just enough to ensure that she is able to project the facade of a slightly interested, but not particularly engaged, first lady (she does not deserve capital letters)! The thing I have found most devastating in the last few weeks is how IQ45 is now able to stick his two fingers up in a repugnant salute to the rule of law and order. He has appointed his own private judge to the highest court in the land, and all appearance of the rule of law is demolished. I could literally weep! But then my rage reignites and I realise that it is only by persisting and resisting we will eventually prevail. Above all, I believe in the value of all people, and the belief that good will always triumph. It may take a while, but we must continue the struggle. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!
She is not going to divorce him and it has nothing to do with smarts. Why would she need this hassle in her life? Trump is a small and vindictive man and she has everything she wants, materially wise. As far as assets… She had bought an apartment in one of Trump’s buildings for her parents. I wouldn’t be surprised if she stashes her money with mom&dad. She will wait out for Trump’s death, continuing to live the way she has been living the whole time. If he (and I very much doubt that) gets thrown out, she’ll be fine.
@ Rhys
“Trump is a small and vindictive man and she has everything she wants…”
Yes, totally agree with you……except for the occassional upper cut before breakfast, left hook in the few evenings where he dares look at his real poll numbers……and perhaps sexual assault when it all gets too much for him.
The man is a *beast* and the world (myself included), seriously underestimated how evil/craven/rotten/foul (my vocabulary’s failing me here) he really is.
If she has invested her money in to trump properties she risks losing them. This NYT story of tax evasion is only the surface of the corruption and while the media gets distracted the NYAG will not. If she is married to him when it goes down, she risks losing assets herself. Perhaps she is transferring things to her parents but she ditches him once he’s out of office, whatever way that may be. They were going to get divorced if he lost so she has one foot out the door already. That’s what the delay was all about in coming to the WH. They were renegotiating the deal.
@ NIC919
Tower of Traitors? F*cking genius!
I am immediately borrowing/stealing this and spreading it as hard as I can.
she’s stupid and clearly proud of her ignorance, a good representation of Trump clan, all show no substance
Wow she is very dumb. That’s all I have. And I really think she thought she was dressing up for a fashion shoot.
A rich trollop in a pith helmet traipsing around like it’s 1915. She can’t do anything with an ounce of decorum or dignity can she. Useless twat…
Why they bother asking her anything is beyond me. She’s a dumb robot.
I look forward to hearing about what she wears when she’s stamping license plates in a women’s prison.
Aging sugar baby looks ridiculous and can barely form two words.
When Donald first bought her, she wore nightgowns out to clubs where she was always hanging on one of his arms, with a playboy model or some other model, on the other. Personally, I’ve no doubt they were doing 3somes. I thought it was pretty obvious.
I am so tired of having to pretend I care one whit what this eurohooker has to say.
Thank you for ‘eurohooker.’ It’s the first real laugh I’ve had in days.
Anything for a distraction from her husbands
Mess.
Creating these distractions seems to be her role in this administration.
People focus on my words not my actions. – No thank you Melania.. Why are we even surprised about what this unevolved woman does? The pith hat is the MAGA hat of the 18th and 19th century. Such a horrible, soulless woman.
And I must ask her “What words?” Besides Be Best and I don’t really care, two conflicting banal messages, what words is she known for.
No, the drump mob family is so unbelievably corrupt, grasping and cruel. Like Grifter Ivanka, Mel is an absolute evil partner in this WH.
Ugh! This bitch! Looking at all the costume -y shit she has worn on this VACATION, it is ALL about what she wears!! God, I am so angry right now. Fucking Kavanaugh has pushed me over the edge. I feel like going full Thelma and Louise. Grand Canyon suicide and all..
What an idiot! A pith helmet is from colonialism in Africa. A head covering that is meant to be dunked in water to keep the head cool. But this dumb “fashion” person thinks she should have her ensemble be something out of a Ralph Lauren photoshoot set in Africa.
How in the world can we take ANYTHING this Placeholder does or says seriously if she can’t even be bothered to research or know what HER message is actually saying to others? C’mon Melania, it’s not that hard. Or…if it is to hard to be something than a walking mannequin, you know, have others do it for you and give you some index cards with the highlights!
‘Pay attention to what we do not how i look.’ Part of the point of these trips is public people like her being photographed no matter what-using that publicity for good to bring attention to places and causes that need it, so pictures are part of what she does. Working on things behind closed doors can do so much to a point, but public attention will change hearts and minds of the public- so saying how she looks in those pictures doesnt matter is dumb and shows shes missing the point. Her job in photo ops is to not distract from what shes doing and where she is, if she wants us to not focus on her clothes then stop wearing inappropriate clothes
I’ll bet my colonizing great-great-grandparents wore this exact same hat in British India. The hat’s so bad that tone-deaf doesn’t begin to describe it. It’s offensive.
Did anybody see her in the tie suit combo, she looked bloody ridiculous, I really believe this woman is a robot, she is so cold and distant, the fact that she married that orange monsster says it all really.
Eh it’s fine by me if she dressed like this on a trip to india. I’m more offended by Megan’s veil “celebrating “ the commonwealth. Ergo celebrating the slavery and theft and 4 million dead Indians in the 1947 alone.
I can’t believe everyone here doesn’t find anyjjng wrong with the veil but Melania trump dressing in khaki is evil when the us had nothing to do with colonialism.
Every response is so dictated by politics and which party someone supports.
She was on a trip to Africa, not India. The pith helmet was worn by British and European colonialists in Africa, India and Indonesia, ergo it represents white supremacy. Liberia was founded, established, colonized, and controlled by citizens of the United States and ex-Caribbean slaves as a colony for African American slaves and their free black descendants, and is rife with violence and gender-based rape and mutilation. Whites were not the only enslaving race – the Portuguese, Spaniards, Arabs and other black races also enslaved and massacred other races. Meghan wearing a veil representing the commonwealth is a drop in the bucket.
Portuguese and Spanish are white.
@Indian, yeah Melania’s hat is ridiculous, but Meghan’s veil was also bad. I know she was probably trying to be “inclusive” but it’s as if she is not familiar with the history of the British empire. Additionally, I know the BRF is trying to get closer to the commonwealth countries due to Brexit, and pushing Harry and Meghan forward is part of that strategy which makes the veil even more dodgy. It doesn’t occur to these fools that it’s insulting to the commonwealth countries? I know one or two people objected to the flowers on the veil here, but not many surprisingly. Or maybe not so surprisingly!
Edited to emphasise: wearing a pith helmet is pretttttttty tone deaf!
This only proves why she had to gold-dig for a living: She’s a lousy model.
Mama mjinga huyu.
Its a hat! I wear one all of the time because its practical.
Euro HookEr is a keeper!!! Just the fact that she wore a jacket draped over her shoulders …. Sigh. TotalLy just a bust out the new clothes trip. Useless Fool.