Everyone is getting a chuckle out of Melania Trump’s new official portrait, but probably not in the way the White House might have hoped.
This new image of the U.S. First Lady, crafted by Belgian photographer Regine Mahaux, is the talk of social media. It’s a black-and-white photo where Melania commands attention with an aura of dignity and sophistication.
Yet, internet users are finding something in the portrait that rings a bit too familiar for their liking.
The setting for this portrait was the storied Yellow Oval Room within the White House, snapped on January 21, right after Donald Trump’s celebration of a second term.
Donning a sharp, tailored dark business suit, Melania is posed with her hands on a polished table, projecting a commanding and sophisticated image. Some have noted that this fits right into the Trump family’s signature style.
In this renewed time in Washington, Melania chooses a strong, commanding presence that contrasts with the more approachable looks she embraced the first time around as First Lady.
Regine Mahaux isn’t new to photographing the Trumps. She’s captured them in their first term and at various personal events, solidifying her place as a part of the Trump brand with her precise, glossy photographic style.
Many online have started to draw fun comparisons between Melania’s image and the promotional pictures for Donald Trump’s reality TV show, The Apprentice. The professional, sleek look seems straight out of a glossy TV teaser.
A user humorously commented, “It looks like it’s the poster for The Apprentice: White House Edition!”
Another added with a laugh, “I feel she’s about to tell me, ‘You’re fired,’ and somehow, I think I probably earned it.”
Others joined in with remarks like, “Is she gearing up to announce a new venture, perhaps Trump Airlines?” and “In this shot, she seems more like an Executive Producer than the First Lady!”
The internet isn’t short of fun quips either, such as, “Great lighting here, but when do we see who gets the axe this week?”
Adding fuel to the buzz, Donald Trump’s own recent official portrait spurred its round of conversations, albeit for reasons not tied to glamour. His image recalled his more daunting police mugshot that made headlines during his legal hassles.
As the Trump family resumes life in the White House, they are keeping up their flair for drama, be it through fashion statements or striking photography.
The official portrait of Melania has been released, and I thought it looked familiar… then I remembered pic.twitter.com/vb1ZaAPgYv
— Shipwreck (@shipwreckshow) January 27, 2025
With Internet denizens buzzing, “When do auditions open for The Apprentice: Presidential Edition?” it’s safe to say this snapshot won’t be leaving the conversation anytime soon.
Melania’s official portrait has sparked a memory for me… I knew I had seen something just like it before!
