Meryl Streep expressed strong disapproval of First Lady Melania Trump’s fashion choices, questioning the underlying message conveyed through her attire. During a recent interview with Vogue magazine, the Oscar-winning actress appeared alongside Anna Wintour to promote the upcoming sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, reprising her role as Miranda Priestly, the formidable fashion magazine editor.
In the course of the discussion, Wintour steered the conversation toward Melania Trump, prompting Streep to share her candid views in the presence of moderator Greta Gerwig. Streep referenced the controversial coat Melania wore in June 2018, emblazoned with the phrase “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” which she donned while visiting migrant children in detention. Streep described this fashion choice as a powerful, yet disturbing, statement.
Streep elaborated that clothing serves as a form of self-expression but is also influenced by broader historical and political contexts. Melania later explained to ABC that the coat was intended as a message to critics and the left-wing media, not the children, asserting that she wanted to demonstrate indifference to detractors.
Reflecting on this, Streep commented on the broader dynamics of female fashion in positions of power. She observed that women leaders are often expected to expose their bare arms on television, while men remain covered in shirts, ties, or suits. This expectation, she argued, carries an implicit apology, forcing women to appear smaller and less threatening. Streep suggested this is a compensatory response to the destabilizing impact of women’s advancements in recent decades, compelling them to signal vulnerability rather than authority.
In a significant development, Streep’s critique underscores that fashion is far from neutral; it is deeply intertwined with power, privilege, and political messaging. Despite Melania Trump’s explanation, the jacket episode continues to be perceived as tone-deaf and emblematic of a larger cultural conversation about gender and authority.
