Theories emerge over why Melania Trump wore iconic hat at husband's inauguration
Melania Trump's inauguration day hat was a lot more than just an accessory, according to social media users.
Rather than taking a leaf out of her husband's book and donning a red MAGA cap, the First Lady of the United States sported a wool boater-style hat yesterday (20 January).
She wore a navy wool coat paired with a matching skirt and an ivory crepe blouse for Trump's big day in Washington, which was attended by tech tycoons, celebrities, and politicians.
American designer Adam Lippes said he took 'great pride' in dressing Melania to watch her husband get sworn in as the 47th President of the USA.
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But it was Eric Javits who had the honour of designing a hat for the former model, 54, as she reprised her role as First Lady after a four-year hiatus.
Jill Biden, the wife of former leader Joe Biden, has been keeping the White House warm for her since 2021, but now Melania is moving back in.
Following the inauguration, there's been a ton of chatter online about some of the strangest moments - including why Barack Obama arrived alone and Hilary Clinton's hilarious reactions.
Elon Musk's movements on stage have sparked controversy, while a weird exchange between Barron Trump and ex-President Biden has also gone viral.
But aside from that, it's Melania's hat that's the talk of the town.
Although you can't miss her accessory anyway, she really drew attention to it when it got in the way of her kissing Trump.
A body language expert even revealed that she believes the prominent black-and-white piece worn by Melania made the new President feel 'unsure' while on stage at his inauguration.
A lot of Melania's face was obscured by the headwear's wide brim, which shielded her eyes from view - and people have been sharing their hunches about why Melania chose to do this.
Social media users reckon that wearing the so-called 'mobster hat' was a calculated decision on the First Lady's part, rather than a fashion faux pas.
Taking to Reddit, one person suggested that the 54-year-old wanted to disguise herself with the accessory due to the 'criticism she's received regarding her facial expressions'.
"That hat is a great way to hide out and conceal much of how she's feeling," the post read.
Another user added: "She wanted the attention diverted to President Trump instead of her, because she knew the media would make comments like some of you are doing in this Reddit.
"Therefore she decided on a very conservative outfit to be not seen. Regardless of their political affiliation or what party you support, there was some thought put into it where you don't even notice her, and that's done intentionally."
A third suggested Melania was a dead-ringer for comic book character Spy vs Spy in the headwear designed by Javits.
"Lol this is such a bad outfit choice," the post read. "Why would no one tell her that she looks EXACTLY like the back spy in Spy vs Spy?"
A fourth commented: "My take is that she wore it to shield her from having Trump kiss her," while a fifth then agreed, "It's just wide enough so Donald can't kiss her, it's a strategic hat."
People also took to X to share their theories on Melania's hat.
One said: "Melania wearing a hat pulled low today is to cover her eyes from photographers. Last inauguration her expressions became memes."
And a second chimed in: "Melania's elegant, occlusive, all-business, mafia boss hat said no one - but especially not the media or their cameras - will have access to her unless she grants it, not even to her facial expressions."
Trump revealed that his wife's hat didn't fare too well in the wind, whipped up by a military helicopter which was taking off with Biden inside.
Speaking in the Emancipation Hall after the swearing-in ceremony, the President laughed: "She almost blew away. She was being elevated off the ground."
Everything Trump has pledged to do as 47th US President
Delaying the TikTok ban
After TikTok went dark on Sunday (January 19), it was bought back after mere hours with a message reading: "Welcome back! Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US!"
Trump will reportedly sign an executive order to delay the ban saying he wants to 'make a deal to protect our national security.'
Immigration
In a statement during a rally at Madison Square Garden during his presidential race he said: "On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out.
"I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible."
Planning over 100 executive orders
It's been reported by AP that Trump plans on preparing over 100 executive orders on his first day in the White House. Trump's allies have reportedly spent time preparing documents that Trump can sign quickly, on issues such as deportation, school gender policies and vaccine mandates, without input from congress.
“There will be a substantial number,” said Senator John Hoeven, R-N.D.
Making hidden government files public
Including the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr., Trump promised at his recent rally in Washington D.C that, in a bid to increase government transparency, he will be making these disclosures in 'the coming days'.
“And in the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
'Make Greenland Great Again Act'
In a bid that has not gone down well with Greenlanders, taking to his social media platform Truth Social Trump said: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.
“Greenland is an incredible place. The people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation. We will protect it, cherish it, from a very vicious outside World. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
January 6 pardons
Trump's loss in the 2020 election led to the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in turn resulting in the arrests of a number of Trump supporters.
In an interview with TIME, Trump said that looking into the cases of the rioters' will take place in 'the first nine minutes' of his time in office.
In a post shared on his social media channel, Trump said: "I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can't say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control."
Getting rid of birthright citizenship
Exactly as it sounds, Trump once declared he wanted to get rid of birthright citizenship, which immediately gives citizenship to anyone born in US. Noting that this may not be possible as it's written into the constitution, he said he wants to achieve this by executive order - bypassing congress again - 'if we can'.
Cut federal funding for schools educating on 'inappropriate' topics
Speaking early last year, Trump addressed a crowd in Iowa and made plans to 'save [the] country from destruction'.
"On day one, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity," he said, per NPR.
Trump also said he would target schools pushing 'any other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children'.
Making the US the 'crypto capital'
Back in 2021, Trump called crypto a 'scam against the dollar.' But four years on, he's pulled a u-turn as he vowed to make the US the 'crypto capital of the planet'.
On social media, Trump claimed crypto would be 'mined, minted and made in the US'.
Both he and wife Melania released their own memecoins ahead of the inauguration, while experts previously predicted Bitcoin could reach up to $250,000 this year.
Be a 'dictator'
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity last year, he referred to himself as a 'dictator' when asked if he was promising to 'never abuse power as retribution against anybody'.
In response, Trump said: "Except for Day 1.
"I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill. We're closing the border and we're drilling, drilling, drilling," he continued.
"After that, I'm not a dictator."
End Green Deals
Trump has spoken previously about his plan to 'terminate the Green New Deal', which he dubbed the 'Green New Scam'.
The Green New Deal was pitched by Democrats Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey, but it was never signed into law.
Addressing the policies in a speech in September, Trump said: "To further defeat inflation, my plan will terminate the Green New Deal, which I call the Green New Scam. Greatest scam in history, probably.
"We [will] rescind all unspent funds under the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act."
"I'm going to write it out in an executive order. It's going to end on Day 1."
Arrange green cards for college graduates
Despite making his stance on migration clear, Trump has advocated for non-US citizens to receive green cards to stay in the country if they graduate from college.
During an episode of the 'All In' podcast recorded this year, Trump said: "Anybody graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country [...]
"Somebody graduates at the top of the class, they can't even make a deal with the company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on Day 1."
Scrap 'electric vehicle mandates'
Trump plans to scrap Biden administration’s so-called electric vehicle mandate, referring to new pollution standards that incentivize auto manufacturers to increase production of electric and lower-emission vehicles.
Despite vowing to get rid of the policy on his first day, Trump told podcaster Joe Rogan the move could take 'maybe two days, because it’s a little bit busy'.
Fire the man who indicted him
Trump faced two federal cases in relation to the 2020 election result from special counsel Jack Smith, and the future POTUS has no plans to work with him again.
Speaking on October 24, Trump told the Hugh Hewitt show he would fire Smith 'within two seconds'.
"He'll be one of the first things addressed," he said.
Topics: Conspiracy Theory, Donald Trump, Fashion, Melania Trump, Viral, Weird, US News, News
Olivia Burke