People are furious about Melania Trump's outfit for her Puerto Rico visit -- here's why it's a brilliant political move

Kate Taylor
Melania Donald TrumpAP ImagesMelania Trump was roasted for wearing stilettos.

Melania Trump has a hurricane style routine — and it’s a deft political play from the first lady. 

On Tuesday, she once again was spotted in stiletto heels as she boarded a plane to a hurricane-devastated region.

In August, the first lady was mocked for wearing sky-high stilettos as she headed to Texas following Hurricane Harvey; on Tuesday, she wore another pair of stilettos as she boarded the plane heading to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.  

When Trump landed in Puerto Rico, she had changed out of her stilettos into a pair of Timberland work boots. 

She was wearing an outfit distinctly similar to the one she wore to Texas (and Florida, following Hurricane Irma): stylish, form-fitting jeans and a baseball cap. 

MelaniaAP ImagesTrump in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico following hurricanes.

Some people — mostly on the left — had snarky comments about Trump’s outfit (specifically, her shoe choice) on Tuesday. 

“Much the way her ‘flood heels’ left many feeling she was out of touch with the difficulties Texans were facing after Harvey, her white jeans may reiterate she’s not here to get dirty,” Cara Kelly wrote in USA Today. “These are photo op pants”

However, many others — especially supporters of President Trump — saw the backlash against Melania Trump as yet another sign of how out-of-touch the “liberal elite” and media are.

As first lady, Trump’s fashion choices are deliberate and strategic. She is very aware of the message she is sending — typically, one of aspirational luxury. 

When the first lady wore stilettos heading to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, she must have known that people would react. However, left-leaning criticism wasn’t necessarily a concern — proving she could rise above backlash with a wink to supporters was more important. 

And, many people saw the shoes as sending exactly that message. 

Wearing stilettos in a hurricane-devastated region would be difficult for even President Trump’s supporters to encourage. However, by wearing high heels while heading to impacted areas, then switching into a stylish but more practical uniform, the first creates a win-win scenario.

Even if there is some backlash to her high-heeled fashion, the backlash is then engulfed by people set on defending the Trump administration. These defenders have plenty of ammunition thanks to the more hurricane-ready looks she dons once her plane actually lands. 

Fashion is political for the first lady — and it looks like Melania Trump has figured out how to give her base what they want. 

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