Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, ignited controversy after posting a social media video mocking First Lady Melania Trump’s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 32-year-old Harvard graduate donned a blonde wig and imitated Trump’s Slovenian accent while reading her message aloud in the Instagram video posted Sunday.
The provocative video, which garnered over 200,000 views, featured Schlossberg wearing what he described as a cheap wig while delivering what he called a “dramatic reading” of Trump’s letter to the Russian leader. After finishing the letter, Schlossberg maintained the accent and criticized the correspondence, stating “What am I saying? This makes no sense.”
Trump’s letter was hand-delivered by President Donald Trump to Putin during their Alaska summit on Friday, August 15. The meeting failed to produce a ceasefire agreement to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has now lasted three and a half years.
In her letter, the First Lady appealed to Putin regarding children affected by the ongoing conflict, though she did not specifically mention Ukraine or Russia’s invasion. The letter suggested Putin could restore children’s “melodic laughter” and urged him to protect the innocence of children worldwide. Trump described the correspondence as serving both Russia and humanity itself.
The letter referenced an estimated 20,000 children who have been abducted from occupied areas of Ukraine and taken to Russia without family consent. The United Nations Human Rights Office has documented violations against millions of Ukrainian children since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, with Kyiv calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.
Speaking to TMZ, Schlossberg defended his mockery and questioned the First Lady’s motives. He characterized the letter as “half-a–ed” and criticized the Alaska summit itself, arguing it lacked clear goals. Schlossberg indicated this was not merely a personal attack but rather criticism of what he viewed as inadequate foreign policy during wartime.
The Kennedy heir, who is the son of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, expressed particular frustration with the summit’s approach. He argued that inviting Putin for a meeting without substantive preparation was contrary to lessons from JFK’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Schlossberg contended that the United States gave Putin a “hero’s welcome” rather than taking a serious foreign policy stance.
In his Instagram video, Schlossberg also took aim at Vice President JD Vance, jokingly claiming he borrowed the blonde wig from Vance, who “left it on the couch.” This reference alluded to unfounded rumors that circulated during the 2024 election campaign.
The video drew swift criticism from conservatives, with some calling it disrespectful to both the First Lady and the Kennedy family legacy. The controversy comes less than a week after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appointed Schlossberg to the bipartisan America 250 Commission, which oversees preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Schlossberg has developed a reputation for provocative social media content, regularly using his platforms to criticize political figures. He has previously posted videos impersonating White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and has been vocal in his opposition to various Trump administration policies.
Earlier this year, Schlossberg launched extensive online criticism during his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary, calling him a “liar” and “cult shaman.” He later apologized for mocking Kennedy’s voice disorder and briefly deleted his social media accounts.
The First Lady’s letter represented a humanitarian appeal amid stalled diplomatic efforts. President Trump described making “some headway” in negotiations with Putin during their Friday meeting, though no concrete agreements emerged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, along with European leaders and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Trump has become more publicly critical of Putin’s continued missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in recent months, crediting his wife for pointing out the Russian leader’s violence against Ukrainian civilians. The President indicated that Melania often reminds him of attacks on Ukrainian cities following his conversations with Putin.
The White House, representatives for Vance, and Melania Trump’s office did not respond to requests for comment regarding Schlossberg’s video. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict as the war enters its fourth year.
