First lady Melania Trump’s message on Mother’s Day received mixed reviews.
Trump, 56, published a first-person essay in The Washington Post on Friday, May 8, titled, “Mother’s Are America’s Strength.”
“A mother’s devotion to her child is unmatched,” she wrote, calling moms their children’s “first teachers of empathy, aspiration and discipline.” Trump added, “Yes, women can thrive in both motherhood and business.”
A handful of Trump’s supporters praised the first lady’s message.
“Yes, I agree. Mothers are important, so if you are one, try to be the best you can be. I know I did,” one X user wrote, as another added, “Happy Mother’s Day to our lovely First Lady, Melania. She is strong, loyal, intelligent and graceful. And her beauty comes from within.”
Other social media users, however, did not agree with Trump’s comments.
“As usual: ignorant, out of touch and condescending,” one individual tweeted. “Especially given the economic struggles faced by many women and mothers in America during your husband’s presidency.”
Another chimed in, writing, “This op-ed belongs with the debris of your old office, The East Wing. The Trump family has no clue about traditional family values. You are hypocrites, cheats, crooks and freaks. You are married to a terrible man and raising a weirdo.”
Melania has been married to President Donald Trump, with whom she shares 20-year-old son Barron, since 2005. (Donald, 79, is also father of four children from previous marriages to Ivana Trump and Marla Maples.)
While Melania’s Washington Post article praised the importance of family, several critics slammed the opinion piece.
“You don’t know anything about joining hands hugs kisses role model and good influence!!!!” a fifth X user alleged. “See everything my folks got they earned!!! Everything you got my parents earned and molded us into grown ups!!!”
Neither Melania nor Trump has publicly addressed the backlash to the Washington Post article. The first lady has previously been candid about facing criticism since her husband was elected president.
“I could say that I’m the most bullied person in the world,” Melania claimed in a 2018 interview with NBC. “I’m one of them. If you really see what people are saying about me.”
Melania has further taken aim against cyberbullying by launching her Be Best campaign.
“We need to educate the children of social, emotional behavior so when they grow up, they know how to deal with those issues,” she said at the time.
Us Weekly has reached out for comment.
