Ivanka Trump's Latest Photo Op Became a Meme Because Of Course It Did
First Daughter Ivanka Trump‘s photo ops have a way of turning into memes, so it shouldn’t have surprised anyone that when she donned a lab coat and safety goggles the internet would react.
Since her father got into politics, the White House adviser has received mixed reactions from even fairly standard photo opportunities, whether it’s an Instagram with her husband in formal wear or an awkward hug with a senator.
The cycle repeated again as Trump toured The Waukee Innovation and Learning Center in Iowa Monday.
A longtime advocate for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM), Trump spearheaded an Education Department effort to address the sweeping shift of jobs to the worlds of computer science and coding. And she got vocal about representation of women and minorities in the at the World Assembly for Women summit in Tokyo in November.
“Female and minority participation in STEM fields is moving in the wrong direction,” she said at the summit. “We must create equal participation in these traditionally male-dominated sectors of our economy.”
Gender diversity in #STEM is key to empowering women & girls. @realDonaldTrump signed two bills bringing us closer to #ClosingTheGenderGap pic.twitter.com/pN5V81JUjI
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 28, 2017
But critics found the image of her in a lab coat irresistible.
Talking #WorkforceDevelopment and Infrastructure in Iowa today! @realDonaldTrump’s #Infrastructure initiative includes a robust plan to expand skills-focused learning to prepare the next generation of American workers for 21st century job opportunities. pic.twitter.com/10md8d5tnz
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 19, 2018
Incredible visit to Waukee APEX, a center where high paying jobs are seamlessly linked with motivated and highly skilled students. Through hands-on learning and #WorkforceDevelopment the careers of tomorrow are being created today! ???? pic.twitter.com/QbLfdr6jkc
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 19, 2018
While it’s possible that all visitors are required to wear protective gear, that didn’t stop people from saying she was “cosplaying” as a scientist. Here’s how the internet transformed the photo.
. @IvankaTrump We see you are training for the Space Force. Tell us about your experiment. We want all the details. pic.twitter.com/Ua2PJk7Ub4
— Rogue NASA (@RogueNASA) March 20, 2018
Ivanka Trump pitches workforce development in Iowa and visits a science and Robotics lab. #sciencing #iknowwhatiamdoing pic.twitter.com/BGkBXJvHSp
— Mary Viglione (@MaryViglione) March 20, 2018
the "Look Around You" reboot looks awful pic.twitter.com/V47RqLj82v
— matt ???? lubchansky (@Lubchansky) March 20, 2018
Last summer she was blogging about champagne popsicles. This year she’s apparently finding the cure to cancer.
— AKhamis (@killawattannie) March 19, 2018
Hey @IvankaTrump it's great that you like to cosplay as a scientist on Instagram but some of us are an #ActualLivingScientist. Tell us about what you're doing in this picture. I'm making a battery. #ILookLikeAnEngineer pic.twitter.com/fW5CFxLYAF
— Holly aka Leia ???? (@absolutspacegrl) March 20, 2018
Me: What are you gonna dress up as for Halloween, Ivanka?
Ivanka: A scientist! pic.twitter.com/J4zlXUaOK0— MauricioGómezMontoya (@MauroGM3) March 20, 2018
Ivanka is Spliting Atoms again, Just one of her many hobbies. pic.twitter.com/YQo3vcli2J
— C.X.F. HIJACK (@ACTOROUTONLOAN) March 20, 2018
Enter the inevitable pop culture takes.
Ivanka looks like a scientist in a low budget straight to DVD movie. pic.twitter.com/4Couc0nxoG
— ???????? Migs (@Miguel_M1GS) March 20, 2018
Ok, here’s my meme; I hope everyone looks at it, cause I’d love some opinions. There was so damned much material to choose from. pic.twitter.com/Ko2XSUWI4H
— never claimed i was funny (@veronicamariez2) March 20, 2018
I imagine that as she did this she softly whispered to herself, “Science.” pic.twitter.com/h501KJ1erh
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) March 20, 2018
Some people praised her efforts.
Thank you Ivanka for being a shining example for our daughters to model themselves after.
— Scott Allen (@ScottyshSin) March 19, 2018
Some have argued that having fun at Trump’s expense is sexist.
Let's see: When John Kerry dressed up like a scientist, it was framed as Democrats loving science. When Ivanka Trump does it, she is dismissed with sexist "cosplay" terminology. pic.twitter.com/bqFV8WvV9h
— Hank Campbell (@HankCampbell) March 20, 2018
Or simply that it’s just her critics targeting her.
Y'all leave Ivanka alone. She knew she wasn't a scientist when she did that photoshoot, the same way I know I'm not actually Steve Young when I put his jersey on. C'mon people!
— Patrick Gray (@PatrickLGray) March 20, 2018