First Lady Melania Trump had been out of the spotlight for quite a while, keeping a noticeably low profile.
But all of that changed at President Donald Trump’s annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. Melania made a rare and unexpected appearance—and it sent social media into a frenzy.
Because it wasn’t just that she showed up… it was how she showed up that had everyone talking.
Proudly next to her husband
Melania Trump, who now splits her time between Washington, New York, and Mar-a-Lago, hasn’t been as visible as she was during her husband’s first term in office.
While she’s made it clear that her approach this time around would be different, many have still been left wondering why she hasn’t been more present alongside Donald Trump. Some fans have even taken to social media to express their frustration, with one person writing, “It’s getting worse every day.”But earlier this week, critics were silenced when Melania made a surprise appearance at President Trump’s annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.
The 54-year-old First Lady stood proudly next to her husband, greeting families and sharing smiles with children as she joined in on the festivities at different activity stations.
Canadian brand Mackage
Ditching the usual Easter pastels, Melania stunned in a sleek, vanilla-colored leather trench coat by Canadian brand Mackage, and green pointed-toe pumps from Roger Vivier.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesWith its sharp epaulets and dramatic high collar, Melania’s trench coat wasn’t just outerwear — it was a power move in leather.Unsurprisingly, the internet had plenty to say.
“OMG, not a trench coat,” one person wrote.
“Wasn’t it like 80 degrees yesterday?,” another one said.
“The coat is gorgeous and falls beautifully. Didn’t even realize at first that it was leather,” a third commenter wrote.
Read “Bunny with a Big Heart”
The White House Easter Egg Roll has been a tradition since 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes, though earlier versions of the event reportedly took place during Abraham Lincoln’s time.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesFrom the egg-rolling competition (yes, Melania blew the starting whistle) to story time with Bunny with a Big Heart, Melania was all smiles. And in true FLOTUS fashion, she wrapped the day with a reflection on X:“Today’s Easter Egg Roll was filled with family, joy, and tradition — a beautiful reminder that when we come together with open hearts, love and harmony truly shine.”
The leopard-print coat
This wasn’t the only recent moment that had people buzzing.
On April 1 Melania turned heads at the International Women of Courage Award Ceremony in D.C., wearing a bold, leopard-print coat by designer Milly Park. With a belted waist and calfskin texture, the $11,000 showstopper oozed quiet luxury.
The award, established by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2007, “recognizes women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership — often at great personal risk and sacrifice,” according to the State Department.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Melania’s bold coat choice didn’t go unnoticed — in fact, it sparked plenty of conversation. Some viewers saw deeper meaning in the dramatic animal print, with one person suggesting, “She wearing [sic] the print of an animal that’s fierce. I do believe she’s sending another one of her messages.”
Meanwhile, fashion lovers were all about the design itself. One fan gushed, “Ohhhh……Melania is so sleek & chic in this coat, and I love the wide sash too!! Fabulous!!”
”I am truly honored..”
According to The Hill, this year’s award recipients included National Human Rights Commission President Henriette Da, Papua New Guinea activist Major Velena Iga, former Hamas hostage Amit Soussana, South Sudanese women’s rights leader Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit, Sri Lankan journalist Namini Wijedasa, Yemeni detainees advocate Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj, Romanian disabilities rights activist Georgiana Pascu, and marine conservationist Angelique Songco.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMilly Park, a self-taught designer from Palm Beach who designed Melanias coat, said it was one of three she gifted Melania late last year. She didn’t even know the First Lady would wear it — until the photos dropped.“Melania Trump Honors Women of Courage in MILLY PARK,” Park later posted on Instagram and added: ”I am truly honored to see our beautiful First Lady wearing Milly Park for such a meaningful occasion.”