Melania Trump…the least popular first lady in American history for the second time

Melania Trump, wife of US President Donald Trump, holds the title of the least popular First Lady for the second time in her political history.

According to the results of opinion polls issued by YouGov, an organization specializing in measuring public opinion trends, Melania’s popularity recorded a new record low, as her support rate did not exceed 36%.

The results showed that 43% of Americans view Melania in a negative light and do not express their admiration for her, while 18% expressed a neutral position, stressing that they do not have a clear opinion of her.

When she left the White House in 2021, after the end of her husband’s first term, her approval rating reached 42%, which at that time constituted the lowest level of support achieved by any first lady in the history of the United States.

Once again, Melania exceeded her previous record of decline in popularity, recording a more negative level in the outlook of American public opinion.

This sharp decline is attributed to a group of overlapping factors, most notably the connection between her public image and her husband’s controversial political image, in addition to the scarcity of her media appearances, in addition to a series of issues and controversies that accompanied her presence in the White House during the previous period.

Stay away from the lights

Melania’s clear tendency to stay away from the limelight is one of the main reasons that prompted a large number of Americans to take a negative or neutral position towards her.

This behavior is unusual for the American First Lady, as it is customary for First Ladies to play a prominent role in public life through media appearances and participation in humanitarian and charitable activities.

Unlike many of her predecessors, Melania preferred to avoid public events and stay away from the cameras as much as possible, which left a wide segment of the public unaware of the nature of her duties or the features of her personality and actual role.

This discrepancy becomes clear when comparing Melania’s experience with the experiences of previous first ladies who enjoyed wide popularity and notable public support, led by Michelle Obama, wife of former US President Barack Obama. During her time in the White House, Michelle Obama was able to establish an independent and influential image by launching pioneering initiatives in multiple fields, including supporting education, combating childhood obesity, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

When she left the White House in January 2017, her popular support rate reached about 68%, which reflects the level of acceptance she enjoyed among Americans.

Criticisms

During the year 2025, Melania’s appearance alongside her husband, Donald Trump, was limited and selective, and was mostly limited to major official events of a widely televised nature, such as the inauguration ceremony.

Despite this, she continued to work on her own initiatives, while moving between her homes in Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Previously, Melania faced a series of controversies that directly contributed to the decline in her popularity. Among these issues were accusations of plagiarism, criticism of her aesthetic and decorative choices, and the controversy that accompanied her “Be the Best” initiative, in addition to her attention-grabbing choices in the world of fashion.

One of the most prominent media incidents that sparked widespread criticism was her controversial choice of clothing during her 2018 visit to a detention center for migrant children on the US-Mexico border. At that time, she appeared wearing a jacket with the phrase written on it: “I actually don’t care…do you care?” Which sparked a major wave of condemnation due to what was considered the message’s inappropriateness to sensitive humanitarian conditions. After the criticism escalated, Melania explained that the phrase was directed at “the left-wing media outlets that criticize me,” she said. Her expression. About “Irish Star”

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Documentary film

For those who wish to learn more deeply about Melania Trump’s role and responsibilities as First Lady, a new documentary bearing her name is scheduled to be shown, giving the American and international audience the opportunity to see the scenes of her transition, her family life, and her experience in returning to the position of First Lady. In a news release, Melania said:

“A new chapter in history begins during the 20 days preceding the inauguration of the US President, and for the first time the global audience is invited to theaters to watch this pivotal chapter, which provides a special and honest look at my exceptional journey towards assuming the position of First Lady of the United States, where I reconcile my family responsibilities, my work, and my charitable projects.”