Portraits in power: The official photos of Melania and President Trump
Melania Trump worked with Régine Mahaux, the same Belgian photographer who documented her first tenure at the White House. This time, the first lady was photographed in stark black and white instead of color, but she once again is wearing the Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana. For her 2025 portrait, it's a dark tuxedo jacket with strong, sharp shoulders.
She's positioned in a typical corporate power stance with her arms spread wide as her hands rest on a reflective tabletop. She stands with her gaze cast directly at the viewer with a blurred Washington Monument in the distance. And she is not smiling — not with her mouth and not with her eyes. Her jaw is set; her mouth is a straight line; her eyes do not twinkle.
The lighting is kind. The focus is respectful. The first lady's face has been relieved of any evidence of life experiences, whether disheartening or invigorating. The viewer does not know if she has cried or laughed, thought deeply or raised an eyebrow in curiosity. The image is a far cry from those favored by close-up portraitist Martin Schoeller, the portraitist of Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel, who has rarely seen a wrinkle, blemish or age spot he did not want to scrutinize in the most unapologetic terms — and whose resulting photographs are almost unbearably intimate.
Mahaux's portrait of Melania is glossy and slick and stuffed with familiar signifiers of power: the slightly looming posture, the perfectly manicured hands placed on the desktop, the tailoring of the pantsuit and the crispness of the open shirt, the obelisk in the background. But its totality is more of a fashion photograph than a portrait of an individual. Its pristine nature says a lot about how the person wishes to be seen but nothing about who the person actually is.
It stands apart from portraits of previous first ladies, with their pleasant smiles, tasteful frocks by American designers and an abundance of pearls. Melania Trump skipped the American label and the pearls, but in her previous White House portrait she showcased the classic first lady smile. Her eyes practically twinkled. Her face was cast in a rosy-cheeked glow. She had her arms folded in front of her, and yet the overall effect was far more welcoming than the more recent image. That first portrait suggested a willingness to consider the traditional soft power of the first lady's office. The new portrait simply announces her power. It's in keeping with the aesthetic note she struck on Inauguration Day: sober, unyielding, self-contained.
Perhaps this new portrait marks a step forward — or maybe it's just a sideways jog — in the country's relationship with a first spouse. Dare one call it an awakening? This 2025 official image suggests that Melania Trump will in no way be saddled with the requirement that she offer up consoling hugs, approving nods or a face frozen into a toothy smile whenever in public. She won't pretend to care. The picture recognizes that the first spouse indeed has power, but there is no rule that it must be soft.
The first lady's portrait is the yin to the president's rage. Donald Trump's second official White House portrait has far more in common with his mug shot taken in Fulton County, Georgia — where he was indicted on racketeering charges — than it does with the many presidential portraits that have come before.
The mug shot is a sad photo. It serves as evidence of how deeply Trump damaged the electoral system, the presidency and the country's sense of cohesion. It's also a photograph brimming with anger and sorrow. Trump folded his brow into a scowl and tilted his chin down. He doesn't look defiant as much as petulant.
He seemed intent on evoking that expression for his 2025 White House portrait. The lighting has been slightly refined. It's calibrated to be dramatic rather than haphazardly harsh. He has adopted a one-eyed squint and self-conscious scowl as if he's playing a version of himself in a Hollywood set piece about gangsters, or reprising his own role as a despotic corporate chieftain in 'The Apprentice.' He has leaned into a persona defined by rage and a delight in screaming 'You're fired!' to those who've failed his test of loyalty.
He's come a long way since his first White House portrait. In hindsight, that one is distinguished by its fealty to continuity, even if his administration ultimately was not. It showed the 45th president in natural light, smiling broadly and openly in front of an American flag.
That 2017 picture depicted a man stepping into an office, of someone sharing the frame with Old Glory. The 2025 portrait shows a man wrapping himself in power. He fills the frame with his fury. Any hints of dignity or thoughtfulness have been nearly squeezed out of the frame to make room for the breath of Donald J. Trump's anger. And he is always Donald J. Trump, as if his middle initial is a talisman of respectability, some antiquated shred of social currency like being II or III or a Chip and not just a middle son from a family in Queens. Missives from President Trump do not come from the White House Press Office, they simply come from The Office of Communications. It's not the White House that speaks. It is Trump. Only Donald J. Trump.
These 2025 portraits of the first couple reveal two people who have stepped into extraordinary circumstances. By any measure, they have been graced by good luck. In her flawless fashion shot, Melania Trump has slipped into her power. In his White House mug shot, the president has succumbed to his rage. Power and rage. There's little room for anything else.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
17 minutes ago
- New York Post
Filmmakers claim late ‘Superman' actor Christopher Reeve would have opposed Donald Trump
Late 'Superman' star Christopher Reeve would have spoken out against President Donald Trump if he were alive today, according to the filmmakers behind his documentary. 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' directors Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte spoke to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday about the actor's activist work, particularly for disability rights, after his tragic horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Ettedgui pointed out that even prior to his accident, Reeve spoke on behalf of other issues, such as artistic expression and housing. 'There was a certain property developer in New York who wanted to develop a horrific modern-town plan, and Reeve led the objections to it,' Ettedgui said to The Hollywood Reporter. 'The property developer was, of course, Donald Trump.' The filmmakers added that actor Jeff Daniels, who worked with Reeve on Broadway in 1980, told them Reeve would have gone so far as to run against Trump. 'But he wouldn't have entered it for his own gain,' Bonhôte said. 'The way he was engaged with people was not just for alliance and power; he saw that things could be changed for the better for the American people.' 4 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' directors Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte said that actor Jeff Daniels, who worked with Christopher Reeve on Broadway in 1980, told them Reeve would have to run against Trump. IPA / 4 Christopher Reeve starred as Superman in the 1978 hit film 'Superman: The Movie.' Warner Bros/Dc Comics/Kobal/Shutterstock Ettedgui added, 'He grew up in a privileged, possibly even slightly entitled background, but he was a very kind man. He realized that he had certain advantages in life, and I think he always evinced that kindness and empathy with other people. But it took on a whole new nature after the accident.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Fox News Digital reached out to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for comment. During his life, Reeve regularly endorsed Democratic candidates such as Bill Clinton and Al Gore. He gave a speech at the 1996 Democratic National Convention, one year after his accident. 4 Reeve criticized Trump in the late 1980s over his development plans, calling them 'the American dream gone berserk' in a speech. AFP via Getty Images 4 Reeve regularly endorsed Democratic candidates such as Bill Clinton and Al Gore, and gave a speech at the 1996 Democratic National Convention, one year after his accident. WireImage Reeve was also critical of Republican presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Prior to his death in 2004, Reeve spoke out against Bush for his opposition to embryonic stem cell research. Reeve also criticized Trump in the late 1980s over his development plans, calling them 'the American dream gone berserk' in a speech.


Newsweek
19 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Russian Strikes Hit US-Owned Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia's latest overnight strikes, which hit deep into Western Ukraine, have hit the Flex electronics factory, injuring six employees. Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said around 600 nightshift employees were present in the factory at the time. "The message is clear: Russia is not looking for peace. Russia is attacking American business in Ukraine, humiliating American business," Hunder told the Associated Press. The factory stands far from the battlefront in eastern and southern Ukraine, and mark the deepest strikes into the embattled nation since the start of the conflict in February 2022, when Russia attempted to invade and take control of Kyiv and other major cities. Hunder said that the invasion has now damaged over half the chamber's approximately 600 member businesses in the country. President Donald Trump sought an economic partnership with Ukraine, tied together most closely through a mining agreement between the two nations, as a means of deterring Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions for Ukraine. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press. This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.


Newsweek
19 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Visa Interview Wait Times Are Skyrocketing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigrants looking to head to the United States are facing increasingly lengthy wait times for an interview at a consulate in their home country ahead of stricter rules from the Trump administration. Appointment wait times for visitor and tourist visas jumped by 69 percent between January and August, per U.S. Department of State data, while student visas were up by more than 250 percent across the board. A spokesperson for the department told Newsweek on Wednesday that the Trump administration was protecting the nation and its citizens "by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety." Cecilia Esterline, a senior immigration policy analyst at the Niskanen Center, told Newsweek that she believed the worst was yet to come. "In less than two weeks we have new rules being implemented that will now require interviews to be mandatory for many more people who are seeking to renew their visas that were previously able to access a waiver, including people who were first-time applicants, but who were eligible for an age-based waiver, like children or the elderly," Esterline said. The slowdown in wait times reflects the wider effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules and increase the vetting of those seeking entry into the U.S. Immigration advocates, attorneys and employers have all raised concerns that delays to visa issuances will have negative effects on the U.S. economy. A façade of the U.S. Embassy with the American flag in the foreground in London on June 1, 2020. A façade of the U.S. Embassy with the American flag in the foreground in London on June 1, 2020. Getty Images Visa Interview Wait Times Rise Sharply The State Department issues regular updates for visa interview wait times across the following categories: B1/B2 visitor visas F, M, and J student and exchange visas H, L, O, P, Q petition-based visas C, D, C1/D visas for airplane crew and transit operators While wait times for different interview categories vary widely across U.S. consulates and embassies around the world, the latest State Department data showed a general uptick in processing times. In Accra, Ghana, student visa applicants were waiting two and a half months for an interview in January. In August, that reached 11 months. In Vancouver, Canada, wait times were a few days. Now, they are about two months after a 13-month peak in July. For those requiring a tourist or visitor visa in Paris, France, a five-month wait has now doubled to 10 months. By contrast, visitor visa applicants in New Delhi, India, now have a much shorter wait time, at 4.5 months compared to the 14.5 months reported in January. Esterline told Newsweek that the State Department's tougher stance on visa adjudications was not unexpected, but that it may lead to greater consequences for the U.S. in the coming months, particularly with next year's FIFA World Cup. "So where the World Cup should be a big economic boost for this country, if they can't get the visas in time to come and can't renew them in time or can't get them for first-time visitors in time, I think that we will actually be set to lose out on a lot of economic gain that could be ours," Esterline said. What Is Changing With Interview Waivers? In July, the State Department announced that it was updating the categories eligible for interview waivers, which allows applicants to obtain or renew a visa without interviewing at a consulate. The waiver program was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic as officials struggled to keep up with demand as travel resumed. The new directive, applying to "all nonimmigrant visa applicants," including those under age 14 and over 79, is set to go into effect on September 2. There will be some exceptions to the new rules: Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1 Applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa's issuance Esterline said this last point would likely lead to different processes for parents—who can renew visas without an interview—and their children. "A parent could have a valid visitor visa, and they could come as a tourist themselves without having to go to a U.S. Consulate. They could even renew their tourist visa without having to visit a consulate in person," she said. "However, if they have a child who needs a new visa, including a few-week-old infant, that child would have to go to an interview, which is an absurd idea to think about the fact that a six-week-old would need to go to have an interview but a parent would not, but that's the reality of it." Once waivers are ended, Esterline believes wait times will only increase further. A State Department official told Newsweek that applicants should apply for their visa "well in advance" of when they planned to travel. They also emphasized that wait times were dynamic and were adjusted often as needs changed.