The portrait followed another polarizing style moment at Donald Trump’s second inauguration, where Melania wore a dramatic navy coat with an oversized boater hat, quickly becoming a signature statement despite divided opinions. Throughout her public life, her fashion has been both armor and art, reinforcing an image that is at once commanding, controversial, and unforgettable.

Melania Trump’s new White House portrait, unveiled January 28, 2025, sparked fierce debate online. Shot in black and white by longtime Trump photographer Régine Mahaux, it shows her in a sharp black suit leaning over a reflective table, framed by the Washington Monument. The commanding image, a stark contrast to her softer 2017 portrait, drew mixed reactions—admired by some for its elegance and criticized by others as overly severe.

The portrait followed another polarizing style moment at Donald Trump’s second inauguration, where Melania wore a dramatic navy coat with an oversized boater hat, quickly becoming a signature statement despite divided opinions. Throughout her public life, her fashion has been both armor and art, reinforcing an image that is at once commanding, controversial, and unforgettable.