In June 2018, Melania Trump visited a detention center for migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border. She wore a jacket with the words “I really don’t care. Do u?” written on the back. This caused a lot of confusion and anger. People wondered why she would wear such a message while visiting children who had been separated from their parents. Was it just a fashion choice, or was she trying to send a message? Melania now claims in her new book that the jacket was a protest against the media, not the children. But for many, this explanation feels like an excuse for poor judgment.
This explanation, however, isn’t convincing everyone. Many on social media expressed outrage over the former First Lady’s attempt to reframe her controversial choice. Dom (@DomIfYouDo) was blunt in his response: “I am not interested at all on her trying to launder her reputation or moderate Trump’s positions. They need to fuck off into the sun forever. Grifters.”
I am not interested at all on her trying to launder her reputation or moderate Trump’s positions. They need to fuck off into the sun forever. Grifters.
— Dom (Google Project 2025) 🥥🌴 (@DomIfYouDo) October 3, 2024
Others were quick to point out deeper historical connections. KittyWampus (@Kitty_Wampus) tweeted, “Nope, it was the fascist slogan for Mussolini’s Black Shirts. Melania grew up next in Slovenia, right next to Italy. Her attempt to spin it fails.”
Nope, it was the fascist slogan for Mussolini’s Black Shirts. Melania grew up next in Slovenia, right next to Italy. Her attempt to spin it fails.
— KittyWampus (@_Kitty_Wampus_) October 3, 2024
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Such comparisons link her fashion choice to more disturbing ideologies. Another user, Protest Radio (@ProtestRadio), questioned the very idea of her protest: “A protest against what exactly? A protest against making any sense about anything at all? A protest for not being more fawned over for having managed to be the third wife of a shady condo slinger who the average New Yorker thinks of as a joke? What does she want?” This sentiment reflects the confusion many feel regarding Melania’s intentions.
A protest against what exactly? A protest against making any sense about anything at all? A protest for not being more fawned over for having managed to be the third wife of a shady condo slinger who the average New Yorker thinks of as a joke? What does she want?
— Protest Radio (@ProtestRadio) October 3, 2024
For some, it’s simply about the lack of compassion. California03 (@California55265) expressed what many feel, tweeting, “She is disgusting.”
She is disgusting.
— California03🇺🇲🦅 (@California55265) October 3, 2024
At that time, her husband, Donald Trump, was president, and his administration had a harsh immigration policy. This policy, called “zero tolerance,” led to thousands of children being taken away from their parents when they tried to cross the border. These families were often fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries, hoping for a better life in the U.S. Instead, they were separated and detained in different places. The world was shocked and outraged by this cruel treatment.
Melania says in her book that she forced her husband to stop this policy. She says she told him, “This has to stop,” and just a few days later, Trump announced the end of family separations. But by that time, many families had already suffered the trauma of being torn apart. Some children were even held in detention centers for weeks or months without knowing when they would see their parents again. The damage had already been done, and the Trump administration showed very little care in reuniting these families.
This moment with Melania’s jacket is not just about her fashion choice—it reflects a larger problem in how the Trump administration and the Republican Party handle issues of compassion. Over the years, Republicans have often shown a lack of care for those in need. A similar event happened in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Then-President George W. Bush, a Republican, did not respond quickly enough to help the people who were suffering. Many were stranded, especially poor and Black communities, with little help from the government.
Donald Trump’s presidency had many moments like this. One of the biggest failures was his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump dismissed the virus at first, calling it a “hoax.” Even when the virus spread and caused thousands of deaths, he continued to spread false information. Instead of taking the virus seriously and acting quickly to protect Americans, he seemed more focused on how the situation affected his chances of re-election.
Melania’s book also revealed that she is pro-choice, which means she believes women should have the right to decide whether or not to have an abortion. This is surprising because her husband and the Republican Party worked hard to take away abortion rights. Trump appointed conservative judges to the Supreme Court, and they helped overturn Roe v. Wade, which had protected a woman’s right to choose for nearly 50 years.
The Trump era will be remembered for its cruelty and lack of compassion. Melania’s “I really don’t care” jacket will always be a symbol of that. It shows how disconnected the Trump family was from the real pain that people were facing. Even though Melania says the jacket was aimed at the media, for many, it will always remind us of how little the Trump administration seemed to care about those who needed help the most.
Featured image via Screengrab
