Meryl Streep has shared her thoughts on the public perception of the Trump couple, revisiting one of Melania Trump’s most discussed fashion moments and igniting fresh dialogue about its wider implications.
“To be fair…”
In a recent interview with Vogue’s former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, moderated by filmmaker Greta Gerwig, Streep talked about fashion, identity, and how women’s style is often examined in the public eye.
As reported by The Independent, this conversation took place just before the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, where Streep returns to her role as Miranda Priestley, a character inspired by Wintour.
The discussion kicked off with an exploration of how personal style can mirror one’s identity. Wintour commended figures like former First Lady Michelle Obama, stating, “Whether she’s in J.Crew or Duro Olowu or Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel, she always appears authentic.” She also pointed out New York City’s first lady, remarking that she looks “so cool,” has a penchant for vintage items, and upholds a style that feels both youthful and contemporary while remaining true to herself.
Reflecting on the current First Lady, Wintour remarked, “To be fair, Melania Trump consistently presents herself authentically in her fashion choices.” Streep, on the other hand, offered a more critical perspective, recalling one of Trump’s most debated outfits:
“I have numerous thoughts on this. I believe the most… impactful message our current first lady conveyed was through the coat that read ‘I Really Don’t Care, Do U?’ while she was en route to visit migrant children in detention. Fashion is a form of self-expression, yet we are also influenced by broader historical and political expectations.”
She further characterized the message behind the jacket as “destabilizing.”
The green Zara coat sparked global backlash in 2018 when Melania donned it during her visit to migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border. At first, she downplayed its importance, but later she clarified her reasoning in an interview with ABC News, stating, “I want to show them that I don’t care. You could criticize whatever you want to say, but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right.”
She further explained, “It was kind of a message, yes. I would prefer that they would focus on what I do and on my initiatives than what I wear.” Melania emphasized that the jacket was not directed at the children and mentioned that she had worn it both before and after the visit, noting that she put it back on afterward because the media had become “obsessed” with it.
For Streep, this incident illustrates a broader trend of how those in authority can shape public conduct.
Reflecting on her own previous remarks, she remembered the 2016 Golden Globe Awards when she condemned President Donald Trump for ridiculing a reporter with a disability during a 2015 campaign rally in South Carolina. Streep remarked that the widely publicized incident left a lasting impression on her:
“And this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”
Streep’s insights link the backlash against Melania Trump’s jacket to a larger issue regarding public conduct and accountability, highlighting how fashion, actions, and authority converge in the political and cultural arena.
