Melania Trump hasn't received deserving appreciation, says Jennifer Pickens: 'Boldly left her unique mark'
White House social expert and speaker, Jennifer Pickens, wrote an op-ed in Fox News where she claimed that Melania Trump has not been recognized for her achievements as first lady. Pickens believes that Melania has "not received the respect and appreciation she deserved during her tenure. Her many contributions are worth noting" as per the Fox News article. Pickens says that it is noteworthy that Melania is the only first lady to be taken out of the private sector to serve as FLOTUS.
"Every other first lady of the past century has had the advantage of being married to a prominent government official or military leader before entering the White House," Pickens wrote in the article. She added that Melania's husband Donald Trump had not served in the government or the military before being elected as POTUS.
She went on to speak about how Melania has excelled when it comes to being 'America's hostess', "despite her lack of experience in wading through the political world." "Mrs. Trump has been able to find the perfect balance between reverence for precedents set by former first ladies, while still respectfully and boldly leaving her own unique mark. One of the most notable examples of this was at the first state dinner held during the Trump administration, hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte," she said in the article.
The op-ed also shed some light on how Melania has often highlighted the US military band more than any other first lady before. Pickens wrote how the entertainment for the state dinner in honor of Australia had been the largest gathering in history of US military musicians for a state dinner at the White House.
Pickens also spoke about Melania's appreciation of the White House itself and its traditions and said "she was the first one to open the White House movie theater to the public tours." Melania had once said, "The White House belongs to the people of this country."
"I believe everyone who takes the time to visit and tour the White House should have as much access to its rich history and wonderful traditions as possible," Melania had added.
Pickens also spoke about how Melania had failed to appear on the covers of magazines during her tenure as first lady and was not "the subject of many positive news stories focusing on her projects and travels." However, she believes that historians will definitely look at Melania through a different set of eyes and it is highly likely that she will be appreciated in the future.
She gave the example of Pat Nixon and said, "Nixon may have one of the longest lists of accomplishments as a first lady, yet this amazing woman was often overlooked during her tenure. She is now more appreciated, decades later." Pickens feels that it will be the same for Melania and that historians will look at and talk about Melania's achievements with an open and more appreciative mind.