Melania Trump's dress at Jimmy Carter's funeral sparks theories about secret meaning behind her outfit

Melania Trump's dress at Jimmy Carter's funeral sparks theories about secret meaning behind her outfit
Melania Trump wore a black Valentino dress as she accompanied her husband, President-elect Donald Trump, at the State Funeral Service for former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday (Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Melania Trump made a bold fashion statement with her attire during the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, January 9, and social media was left wondering if there was more to her sartorial choice than what met the eye.

While the 54-year-old wore a Valentino ensemble during the somber event, her fans took the internet by storm as they speculated the hidden meaning of her dress. 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden declared today a national day of mourning for Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 9, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Several fans were convinced that Melania’s choice of attire was not entirely coincidental, suggesting that the former model was boldly sending a message through her attire.

Melania Trump wore a statement Valentino piece to the funeral

On Thursday, Melania Trump accompanied her husband, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, to the funeral ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden declared today a national day of mourning for Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia. Following the state funeral, Carter’s remains will be returned to Plains, Georgia where he will be interred after a private family service. (Photo by Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC (Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty Images)

Staying true to her fashionable persona, Melania wore a black Valentino trench dress with a white button-down shirt underneath from the brand’s fall 2019 collection. The button-down, however, featured an enormous, dramatic white collar that appeared to draw the attention of several of her fans. 

Melania paired her dress with a classic black Manolo Blahnik pumps. 

The black-and-white art, while it appears to be an abstract print at first glance, is actually the image of a print of a couple kissing amid roses and butterflies. 

According to Daily Mail, the print appeared in multiple clothing pieces of the fashion brand’s 2019 collaborative collection with the high-end Japanese street brand, Undercover. 

Soon, Melania’s fans took to social media to find the hidden meaning behind the print. One fashion-conscious user, took to X, to write, “Melania's Coat Dress that she wore today is by designer, Valentino. Valentino used a print of the sculpture "The Kiss" in this collection that she's wearing.”

The user went on to delve deeper into the intention behind the sculpture, saying it was “originally conceived by a larger sculpture titled, "The Gates of Hell,"' and added a Wikipedia page description. 

The outlet reported that the page explained the art as, “The Kiss (Le Baiser) was originally in The Gate along with other figures of Paolo and Francesca da Rimini.”



 

“Rodin wanted to represent their initial joy as well as their final damnation,” continued the description, before adding, “He removed the figure that became known as The Kiss because it seemed to conflict with the other suffering figures.”

"How fitting to wear in a room full of traitors," concluded the fan.

The incoming first couple were seated in a room with all the living former Presidents, along with the current President Joe Biden, and Trump's former opponent and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

At one time, Trump was seen engaged in a hearty conversation with former president Barack Obama. 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former U.S. President Barack Obama as Melania Trump looks on during the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden declared today a national day of mourning for Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former US President Barack Obama as Melania Trump looks on during the state funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 9, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Donald Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence were also present in the room, but the outlet reported that Karen did not acknowledge the president-elect and his wife when they arrived. 

Melania Trump's coat dress sparks discussion

Soon, several users put forward their theories including the one that it was befitting for her to wear the dress in a room full of politicians who harbored different political opinions than her husband. 

One of the social media users said, "For those wondering 💭 as I was, Melania’s collar is a Valentino 🇮🇹 19th-century neoclassical sculpture of kissing lovers, a butterfly 🦋 & a 🌹 theme. Everything she does is with thoughtful intention 😌 Style is back."



 

Another fan chimed in, "There’s always meaning behind her outfits!"



 

Meanwhile, everyone was of not the same opinion, as another user suggested it was just a key design, stating, "No, shes not political like that. its Valentino so she is wearing a key design."



 

Nevertheless, another user said, "Melania wears Valentino's The Kiss, a perfect choice for their seating."



 

"Melania is beautiful no matter what she wears but this is stunning ~ what it a tribute to the Carter’s Love Story?" asked someone referencing late President Jimmy Carter's fairytale love story with his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter.



 

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