Melania Trump silences critics as 2025 inaugural gown heads to Smithsonian

WASHINGTON, DC: The Smithsonian National Museum of American History announced on Wednesday, February 18, that Melania Trump’s most recent inaugural gown will be added to its permanent collection.

The white Hervé Pierre design, featuring a bold black stripe, will be displayed in the museum’s First Ladies Gallery, which documents the public and ceremonial roles of presidential spouses.

Mrs Trump is scheduled to visit the Washington museum on Friday to deliver remarks at a formal dedication ceremony.

The announcement follows the release of her documentary film, 'Melania', which details the design process and fittings behind the creation of the gown.

Iconic gown joins national history

The gown entering the collection is the same Hervé Pierre design worn by Melania Trump at last year’s presidential inauguration.

The First Ladies Gallery houses garments and artifacts connected to the women who have served in the White House, preserving items tied to key political and cultural moments.

Pierre, known for his structured and architectural approach to fashion, has frequently collaborated with Mrs Trump.

The white gown with its dramatic black accent reflects a continuation of that partnership and marks another chapter in the first lady’s public image during major national events.

The museum stated that the acquisition aims to capture a defining moment in contemporary American history through fashion.

Rare distinction for First Lady Melania Trump

With this addition, Melania Trump becomes one of the few first ladies to have two inaugural gowns preserved in the Smithsonian’s collection. Her 2016 inaugural gown, also designed by Hervé Pierre, was inducted into the gallery in 2017.

The First Ladies collection includes more than 1,000 objects, ranging from gowns to personal memorabilia. According to the White House, having two inaugural gowns archived by the Smithsonian is a rare distinction held by only a limited number of first ladies.

Choosing outfits for forever history

Melania Trump previously described selecting an inaugural gown as a significant responsibility. During the 2017 induction ceremony for her first gown, she acknowledged the lasting impact of garments chosen for such historic occasions.

In her documentary 'Melania', viewers were given a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation, fittings, and design decisions involved in creating the Pierre gown.

The film highlighted the attention to detail required for an outfit destined for a nationally televised event and, potentially, museum preservation.

Friday’s ceremony will mark the formal transfer of the garment into federal stewardship, where it will be curated as part of the institution’s long-standing historical archive.