{"id":2571969,"date":"2026-02-20T13:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T18:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-lady-melania-trump-donates-inaugural-dress-to-smithsonian\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:55:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T18:55:05","slug":"first-lady-melania-trump-donates-inaugural-dress-to-smithsonian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-lady-melania-trump-donates-inaugural-dress-to-smithsonian\/","title":{"rendered":"First lady Melania Trump donates inaugural dress to Smithsonian"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffirst-lady-melania-trump-donates-inaugural-dress-to-smithsonian%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571969&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Melania Trump donated her 2025 inaugural gown to the Smithsonian\u2019s First Ladies Collection, describing it as a reflection of \u201cAmerica\u2019s destiny.\u201d The Herv\u00e9 Pierre-designed black-and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-matt-walsh-rips-into-human-deepfake-tiktoker-dylan-mulvaney\/\" title=\"WATCH: Matt Walsh Rips Into \u2018Human Deepfake\u2019 TikToker Dylan Mulvaney\">-white dress<\/a> will be displayed alongside her 2017 inaugural gown,making Trump the first first lady in more then a century to be represented by two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-melania-trump-gifts-inaugural-gown-to-smithsonian\/\" title=\"WATCH LIVE: ... ... gifts inaugural gown to Smithsonian\">inaugural gowns<\/a> at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of american History. Trump called the gown more than just a dress, saying it embodies decades of education, experience, and wisdom, and represents America\u2019s originality and leadership in fashion. The exhibit traces the First Ladies\u2019 dresses back to 1912,when Helen Taft started the tradition,and highlights how these gowns illuminate women\u2019s evolving roles and democracy.The gown features a symbolic black \u201cZ\u201d shape and is complemented by a Harry Winston brooch loaned for the 2025 inauguration. Smithsonian officials emphasize that these garments offer a window into American culture and the changing expectations of women. Trump also referenced her documentary, Melania, which shows the design process behind the look.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Melania Trump calls inaugural dress &lsquo;America&rsquo;s destiny&rsquo; symbol at Smithsonian event<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2510800\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>First lady <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/melania-trump\/\">Melania Trump<\/a> said her 2025 inaugural dress reflected &ldquo;America&rsquo;s destiny&rdquo; as she donated the gown to the Smithsonian&rsquo;s First Ladies Collection on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s Herve Pierre-designed black-and-white gown will be featured with her 2017 inaugural gown, making her the first first lady to be represented by two inaugural gowns in more than 100 years at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/smithsonian-institution\/\">Smithsonian<\/a> Museum of American History.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4465301\/trump-response-supreme-court-tariff-decision\/\">Revealed: Trump&#8217;s expletive-laden response to Supreme Court tariff decision<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4465324\/trump-considering-small-iran-strike\/\">Trump &#8216;considering&#8217; small-scale Iran strike as negotiating tactic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4465100\/board-of-peace-alternative-to-united-nations-guy-benson\/\">Board of Peace should be &#8216;alternative&#8217; to United Nations: Guy Benson<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The Smithsonian museum is an important cultural jewel &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >human nature resides<\/a> in the discipline of detail,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;This is not a dress &mdash; it is more than 50 years of education, experience, and wisdom realized through each thread, each stitch, each sharp edge.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Helen Taft started the tradition in 1912, when she donated her 1909 inaugural gown to the Smithsonian. Since then, several <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-lady\/\">first ladies<\/a> have followed, with the exhibit showcasing more than a dozen dresses, including those of Mary Todd Lincoln, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Michelle-Obama\/\">Michelle Obama<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The exhibit explores the &ldquo;important&rdquo; position of first lady and the different ways the women shaped the unofficial role to make their &ldquo;own contributions&rdquo; to their husbands&rsquo; presidential administrations and the nation, according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/americanhistory.si.edu\/explore\/exhibitions\/first-ladies\">Smithsonian website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump said the gown showcases America&rsquo;s &ldquo;pure spirit&rdquo; of originality and creativity.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/i-want-honest-elections-jovan-hutton-pulitzer-releases-new-video-on-2020-election\/\" title=\"\u201cI want Honest Elections!...  Jovan Hutton Pulitzer Releases New Video on 2020 Election\">human condition<\/a> is captured within every stitch, the idea to endure and rise above mediocrity, to reach the highest level, America&rsquo;s destiny,&rdquo; she said. The gown &ldquo;is a statement to why America&rsquo;s fashion industry can lead the rest of the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Smithsonian Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3787468\/trump-smithsonian-director-lonnie-bunch-meeting\/\">Lonnie Bunch III<\/a> said the first ladies exhibit is one of the most popular and that each gown offers a &ldquo;window&rdquo; into American culture.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These treasured artifacts, these costumes, these dresses help illuminate the development of the country, but they illuminate the changing expectations of women&rsquo;s roles in society,&rdquo; Bunch said. &ldquo;In essence, they talk about the expansion of our democracy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Highlighting the black Z shape on the front of the dress, Trump said it was meant to symbolize her early memories.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The meticulously formed black shape Z on the front body comments decades of my early memories, life experiences, and influences,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;All of these stories are tucked deep within its crisp, strong seams forever.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump thanked Herve Pierre during her remarks and said it was an &ldquo;honor&rdquo; to work with the designer&rsquo;s team.<\/p>\n<p>In Trump&rsquo;s 2025 inaugural look, she also wore a black neck piece that features a 1955 Harry Winston brooch that she said was loaned to her specifically for the inauguration, bringing &ldquo;harmony&rdquo; to her outfit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This dress speaks with a distinct point of view,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;A modern silhouette, bold, and dignified, and ruthlessly chic.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3787468\/trump-smithsonian-director-lonnie-bunch-meeting\/\"><strong>WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE DC BUBBLE WENT TO SEE THE MELANIA MOVIE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the first lady&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4442261\/melania-8-million-opening-weekend-documentary\/\">documentary<\/a>, <em>Melania<\/em>, the dress design process is shown, and Trump highlighted that to the audience at the Smithsonian.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you had a chance to see my new film, <em>Melania<\/em>, you are well aware of what it took to take this technical marvel to life,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;We must take pride not only in the small rituals of self-care but in the courageous act of self-expression, our outward appearance to the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Melania: inaugural dress embodies America&#8217;s destiny<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2571970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25021172718442.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[74220,74228,70266,17565],"class_list":["post-2571969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-firstlady","tag-inauguraldress","tag-melaniatrump","tag-smithsonian"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25021172718442.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571969"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571973,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571969\/revisions\/2571973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}