Melania Trump led the line of all the living First Ladies at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral on Nov. 28th, and her outfit choice has sparked a lot of controversy. As Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and current First Lady Dr. Jill Biden processed in classic black attires, Melania arrived in an almost sparkly looking long gray coat. Many fans are calling her “disrespectful,” while others say gray is “perfectly acceptable.”
Rosalynn Carter, the wife of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on Nov. 19th at the age of 96 at her Plains, Georgia home. Her funeral was held there, and fans were pleased to see the former president, 99, make a rare public appearance. Keep reading for more information.
She might as well have “I really don’t care, do you?” on the back of that coat… #Melania #Trump #disrespect pic.twitter.com/Wh8R5Qsfe0
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) November 28, 2023
Melania Trump forgets funeral etiquette with light gray coat
Melania arrived in what would normally be considered a chic gray coat. She belted it at the waist, and the hem fell just below her knee. But, as many are pointing out, why not wear black? “EVERYONE wears black, espeically at a funeral like Rosalynn Carter’s,” user @AbleRaces wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “But not Melania Trump. She wears gray. She stands out like a sore thumb.”
Black is seen as the most traditional color of grieving. Though Melania did wear a black dress beneath her gray coat, fans still argued that she should’ve just worn black—after all, it’s not a fashion show. But, Diana Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, says it’s not that big of a deal. “It would be a different story if Melania Trump wore hot pink, or bright red, but rather she chose a somber gray, which is a perfectly acceptable color for funerals.”
“Her choice of outfit was conservative and respectful,” she continued. But fans had other thoughts.
“I think everyone is thinking too deeply about this and making it something it’s not,” a final fan said.
Fan reactions
"She might as well have "I really don't care, do you?" on the back of that coat..." @AndyOstroy wrote in a tweet.
"She decided NOT to wear her 'I really don't care' jacket, but it still feels like she's wearing one," another user posted. "Couldn't find any black clothes?"
"Melania Trump is an outcast and now apart of the First Lady's club," one person tweeted.
"Feels EXTREMELY intentional," another added.
In a TikTok video about her outfit, one user called it "inappropriate," while another commented that it was "clearly disrespectful," describing the outfit as "bright and loud."
But others agree with Gottsman, saying, "It's perfectly acceptable."
"Her dress was extremely appropriate," another agreed. "Leave her alone."
"You're kidding, right?" another asked. "This is very tasteful."
