WASHINGTON — The official White House portrait of first lady Melania Trump was unveiled Monday, more than two months after President Donald Trump was inaugurated.
The portrait shows Trump with her arms crossed, wearing a black jacket and a black blouse, her hair down and a slightly smoky eye and pink lip gloss. Her reported 25-carat diamond ring, gifted to her from Donald Trump for their 10th wedding anniversary, is also visible.
"I am honored to serve in the role of first lady, and look forward to working on behalf of the American people over the coming years," Trump, 46, said in a statement that accompanied the image.
Despite the White House statement that the photo was taken at her "new residence at the White House," People reported that Trump continues to live at Trump Tower with her son, Barron, in New York City. Barron, 11, is finishing up the school year at home, and he and his mother are expected to visit Washington in the summer.
Vogue reported that Trump's photo bears a resemblance to that of former first lady Nancy Reagan, down to the bow tied at the neck of each woman's blouse in the photos and the similar style of window in the background.
Some reacted on Twitter to the image with criticism of the perceived amount of editing on and overall effect of the image.
Melania looks like she's about to drop the most 🔥 ballad of 1987 https://t.co/pvMrqvfCJ6
— UConn is home (@NoEscalators) April 3, 2017
Was this taken at the Glamour Shots studio at the Montebello Mall?
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) April 3, 2017
what filter is this @FLOTUS https://t.co/YuQKI87Zbt
— David (@DiscreetLatino) April 3, 2017
Others tweeted about Trump’s beauty in the portrait.
pls mind your words... say something nice or dont say anything at all..she is not Donald. Melania you look good !
— Love Song For A Vampire (@Listofthings2do) April 3, 2017
Our beautiful First Lady, such class.... Love her fashion style...Very nice! https://t.co/6uABxAsgZR
— Michelle (YouTube* Cricket Lynn Zimmerman ) (@starchild18) April 3, 2017
The critiques are not the first for a First Lady portrait. Former first lady Michelle Obama's 2008 portrait raised some eyebrows because her bare arms.
The image is on the official White House site along with a brief biography of the first lady. It includes an overview of her modeling career, which she began at age 16, her charity work and her platform as first lady to combat cyberbullying.
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