Melania Trump maintained her characteristic silence during a White House congressional picnic on Thursday, June 12, 2025, as President Donald Trump attempted to flatter her with praise for her political achievements. The First Lady smiled and nodded without speaking while her husband joked that she could replace him as president.
The President praised his wife during the annual White House congressional picnic, addressing Republican lawmakers from the residence overlooking the south lawn. Trump specifically commended Melania for her work on the Take It Down Act, which makes posting real or AI-generated deepfake explicit intimate imagery online without consent illegal. The legislation cleared the House in April after passing the Senate in February.
Trump expressed gratitude to Melania for achieving bipartisan support on the bill, suggesting it demonstrated her political potential. He indicated that when he saw the bill pass with bipartisan backing, he told her she might take his job because they don’t often get such cross-party cooperation. The President noted that when Melania asked why the bill succeeded, he responded that there was no specific reason but congratulated her on the accomplishment.
The First Lady’s response remained minimal throughout the President’s remarks. She smiled, nodded, and clapped while allowing her husband to speak for her, maintaining the restrained public demeanor she has displayed throughout their marriage. This marked the second consecutive day the couple appeared together publicly, following their attendance at the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center appearance drew particular attention from late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, who analyzed the couple’s body language during the event. Kimmel joked about their prenuptial agreement requirements and commented on their apparent relationship dynamics. He noted their unusual hand-holding technique, where Trump appeared to be holding Melania’s thumb rather than her hand in what he described as a thumb lock.
The musical choice proved ironically appropriate, as Les Misérables tells the story of disenfranchised people rising up against their government in 19th-century France. The timing coincided with Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles to address anti-deportation protests, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to suggest someone explain the plot to the President.
Trump’s anti-woke overhaul of the Kennedy Center, which began in February with the removal of longtime leadership, reached a notable milestone with his first attendance at a performance since the changes. The organization replaced board chair David Rubenstein and president Deborah Rutter with Trump appointees, including Usha Vance, Susie Wiles, Pam Bondi, and Fox News personalities Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo.
The audience reaction at the Kennedy Center was mixed, with some booing while others cheered. During intermission, one woman in the orchestra section reportedly shouted that Trump was a convicted felon before being escorted from the building. Other attendees expressed support, prompting Trump to pump his fist in the air three times. Four drag queens sat below the presidential box as a statement of inclusivity, despite Trump’s previous calls to ban drag shows targeting youth.
Melania’s recent public appearances have been rare, marking a departure from traditional first lady roles. She has largely remained absent from the campaign trail and skipped key moments, including primary victory parties and court appearances. During a previous Fox News interview in September 2024, she called for Democrats and media to stop calling her husband “a threat to democracy.”
The First Lady’s fashion choices have also drawn attention, with reports indicating that major designers who previously shunned her during Trump’s first presidency are now competing to dress her. This represents a significant shift from 2017, when many fashion houses refused to work with her due to political concerns. The change reflects her recent efforts to establish an independent brand through her memoir and upcoming Amazon documentary.
Melania has promoted the Take It Down Act as part of her broader advocacy regarding technology’s impact on children. She previously warned that artificial intelligence and social media represent digital candy for the next generation, describing them as sweet, addictive, and engineered to affect cognitive development. She emphasized that these technologies can be weaponized to shape beliefs, affect emotions, and potentially cause harm.
The congressional picnic appearance reinforced the pattern of public interactions between the President and First Lady, where Trump typically dominates the conversation while Melania maintains a reserved presence. This dynamic has been consistent throughout their time in public office and continues to draw commentary from political observers and entertainment personalities alike.
