Donald Trump’s air-kiss to Melania at inauguration goes viral — thanks to her hat
Eric Todisco
January 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
President Donald Trump kissing first lady Melania Trump at the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 20, 2025
Missed kiss.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump shared an awkward moment that went viral at his presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.
Before he went up to the podium to take the oath of office inside the US Capitol, the 47th president leaned towards his wife and tried to kiss her cheek.
Melania Trump and Donald Trump at the US Capitol on Jan. 20. Kevin Lamarque-Pool via Imagn Images
Donald Trump can’t kiss his wife because of her hat. AP
Donald Trump tries to kiss Melania Trump at his inauguration. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
But Trump, 78, couldn’t reach Melania due to her navy wide-brimmed hat that was designed by Eric Javits.
The top of Melania’s hat hit Trump’s forehead, as the couple settled for an air-kiss before Trump sat down next to Vice President JD Vance.
Melania and Donald Trump embrace at the inauguration. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Melania Trump and Donald Trump at the 2025 presidential inauguration. AP
Melania Trump watches her husband sworn in as the 47th president. Shutterstock
Melania, 54, sat next to her son, Barron Trump, as her husband was officially sworn in as president.
Trump kissed Melania on the cheek — and this time he didn’t miss — after he was sworn in as all five of his children embraced him.
The first lady attended the inauguration in a navy Adam Lippes tailored navy silk wool coat, a navy silk wool pencil skirt and an ivory silk crepe blouse, all designed by Lippes and handsewn in New York City.
She paired the ensemble with her big hat and black leather gloves.
Melania Trump arrives for a church service on the day of his inauguration. REUTERS
“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump,” Lippes told The Post in a statement. “Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”
Before Melania, the last first lady to wear a hat at an inauguration was Nancy Reagan in 1985.
Melania Trump at the 2025 inauguration. Getty Images
Emma McClendon, assistant professor of fashion studies at St. John’s University, told The Post about the significance of Melania wearing a hat to the ceremony.
“There is something, again, very old world, traditional in the use of a hat,” said McClendon. “There’s been a return of interest to some of these elements that have maybe faded out of the everyday wardrobe for most people. This is something that’s not happening in a vacuum.”
In addition to Melania and Barron, Trump’s four older children — Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric and Tiffany — were at the inauguration.
Donald Trump with his family at his inauguration. AP
Melania Trump, Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at the inauguration. Getty Images
Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, their kids Arabella, 13, Joseph, 11, and Theodore, 8, Tiffany’s husband, Michael Boulos, and Eric’s wife, Lara Trump, were also in attendance.
Other political figures at the ceremony included Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush.
During his inauguration speech, Trump declared Monday “liberation day” in America and vowed his second term would begin with a “revolution of common sense.”
Donald Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States. via REUTERS
“Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end,” he told the 600-person audience in the rotunda.
One week before the inauguration, Melania told Fox News where she will spend most of her time in her second stint as first lady.
Melania Trump and Donald Trump go to church before his inauguration in Washington DC. Getty Images
“I will be in the White House. And when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach,” she said. “My first priority is to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife.”
The Trumps moved to Palm Beach, Fla., after they left the White House in 2021. Barron, 18, is a student at NYU’s Stern School of Business and lives in Trump Tower in Midtown.
