Melania Trump's Beyoncé-Like Outfit and Hand-Hold Rejection Are Getting Meme'd
A mere two days after Melania Trump's smile at former president Barack Obama during Barbara Bush's funeral launched a thousand tweets, the First Lady is back to being meme'd. This time, it's because she seemingly attempted to take a style cue from a certain Coachella-reinventing icon and avoid the hand of a certain world leader.
On Tuesday, according to CNN, FLOTUS and President Donald Trump hosted a traditional state arrival ceremony at the White House to receive French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. As usual, President Trump attempted to hold his wife's hand, and as usual, she had a very awkward response that did not escape the Internet's notice. In the extremely painful video (seriously, try to watch it without cringing), Trump appears to "test the waters" by poking Melania's hand with his pinky finger, and when she doesn't react, he goes for the hand-hold. She then appears to try to take her hand away, before finally giving in and clasping his hand back, but not before correcting his grip.
But as luck would have it, the moment spawned not one but two memes, because Twitter users also took note of Melania's outfit — and how it referenced an iconic Beyoncé look. According to CNN, the first lady wore a white asymmetric blazer and a matching Hervé Pierre hat with a tall top and a wide brim, and many Twitter users thought it looked like the white version of one of Beyoncé's signature outfits from "Formation." (Make no mistake, however: headlines saying the Internet was comparing the two women misrepresent the fact that Beyoncé is without compare.)
Immediately, the Internet was filled with jokes linking "Formation" lyrics and Melania's alleged complicity in her husband's policymaking. There were several takes on Donald Trump's policies on immigration and deportation, while others referenced the Trump-Russia investigation. Yet others opted for a more general allusion to the progress (or lack thereof) of Trump's promise to "make America great again," while some took pointed jabs at the president's treatment of women.
Related: Beyoncé, an Icon, Had to Turn on Her Own Fan During Her Second Coachella Performance
