Melania Trump: 7 Times the “Classy” First Lady Was Anything But
When she became First Lady, die-hard Trump supporters consistently ascribed the same word to Melania in the run-up to the presidential election: classy. Political neophytes assumed they used that particular adjective based on her past as a fashion model, her lavish designer wardrobe, and her reserved eastern European demeanor.
Melania appeared to be an introvert to many casual observers, someone dragged into the national spotlight by an ambitious husband who went along as his dutiful wife. Because of her reserved persona, some people (especially women) had empathy for her plight as a reluctant figure on the world stage and wished her the best.
A Racist Dog Whistle
Yet, as time went by and her actions proved to be anything but classy, many who once had compassion for Melania’s unfortunate circumstance felt duped. They realized the classy designation had been a racist dog whistle-not so much a compliment to Mrs. Trump but a slight of the former First Lady, Michelle Obama.
Those who used the classy label to describe Melania were speaking loudly and clearly to their targeted audience. They were directly addressing those who disliked Mrs. Obama, the only black woman to have ever served as First Lady and a hugely popular, well-respected figure around…
