12 times Melania Trump channeled Jackie Kennedy
President Trump made headlines this weekend for his call to "Fox and Friends," in which he addressed his plans for the future of Air Force One and, in doing so, compared his wife to Jackie Kennedy.
In discussing his hopes to strip the plane of its signature baby blue aesthetic for a more patriotic red, white and blue color scheme, Trump touched upon the influence of his wife on the American public and how she emulates the past first lady.
“People get used to something but — and it was Jackie O. and that’s good, but we have our own Jackie O. today. It’s called Melania. We’ll call it Melania T,” the president argued. “People love her. She gets no credit from the media, but she gets credit from the people.”
The comments, however, didn't sit well with social media, with many arguing against the stark comparison.
No, because they are incomparable. Yes they have style, but Melania has a stylist Jackie was stylish. It's like comparing her to princess Diana. There are no similarities - and fashion is something that is easily replicated. Charity, goodwill and conscience is not.
— She's had enough (@vnessfraggle) June 17, 2019
Others simply maintained it was Melania and Jackie's influential taste in fashion that drew the comparisons.
Oh please, give it a rest already! The comparison between Jackie O & Melania is their excellent taste in fashion & folks there us no disputing that! https://t.co/FJ9JtMwbn1
— deeputty67 (@deeputty67) June 16, 2019
Wow, I agree. She is not only beautiful but graceful, gracious, and has the most amazing fashion sense. Haters will always hate but she is amazing and wonderful First Lady!⚡️ “America has a new Jackie O and it's 'Melania T,' according to President Trump”https://t.co/XimOICpxHv
— Brenda Kay Johnson (@bscaddenjohnson) June 14, 2019
Many of the haters apparently thought that Trump was snubbing Kennedy Onassis, when he was actually saying that Melania exudes the same sense of fashion, gracefulness and class Jackie did when she was first lady in the White House.
— Stephen Russak (@StephenRussak) June 17, 2019
Comparisons between Jackie and Melania began as early as Trump's inauguration in 2017 because of the first ladies' similar inaugural looks. However, a closer look at Kennedy's Oleg Cassini coat shows that photos from the 1961 watershed event inaccurately portray her ensemble as blue. Although beige, the outfit from 56 years ago has ignited comparisons between the two that have continued well into Melania's tenure as first lady today.
Closer detailing of the inaugural Oleg Cassini coat has been shown and preserved by the JFK Library and can be seen here.
See all the times Trump channeled Kennedy's outfits:
In fact, 18 years before the Trumps took the White House, Melania expressed her admiration for the former first lady. When asked by the New York Times during a 1999 interview about a possible future in the White House, Melania Trump hoped she would play a traditional role.
''I would be very traditional. Like Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy. I would support him," she said. And although her fashion has been far from traditional, Jackie Kennedy's style wasn't exactly traditional either. With her pillbox hat and bug sunglasses, Kennedy quickly became known as a trendsetter, a reputation that followed well past her death in 1994.
Melania, like Kennedy, is expressive with her fashion, regularly opting for vibrant colors, statement-making patterns and unique tailoring. And like Kennedy, Trump has regularly made headlines for her sartorial choices, whether appropriate or controversial.
Both Melania and Jackie were both well cemented in the local societal circle before taking the White House, but the latter often opted for up-and-coming designers as opposed to Trump, who has become known to favor well-known high fashion brands. For example, the designer behind Kennedy's wedding gown has been deemed "Fashion's Best Secret"-- designer Anne Lowe, the granddaughter of an enslaved dressmaker, died unknown at 82 despite creating one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time.
However, despite these differences, it's safe to say we can expect many more sartorial comparisons between the first ladies, especially as the administration gears up for its 2020 campaign.
Related: A look back at the Kennedys' nuptials