Melania Trump faced widespread criticism on social media for her fashion choices during a UK state visit, particularly her bright yellow Carolina Herrera gown worn to a state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla on September 17, 2025.
The first lady’s off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress, described by observers as resembling the color worn by Curious George’s “Man in the Yellow Hat,” stood out prominently at the formal diplomatic event. The ensemble featured a pastel lavender or pink belt, depending on lighting conditions, and was accessorized with dangling green gemstone earrings adorned with diamonds.
Social media users quickly responded to Trump’s outfit choice with harsh commentary. One critic on X wrote that the gown was “all kinds of wrong,” while another asked if she was going to the beach and whether she had brought a towel and sunscreen. Additional comments described the dress as ugly and questioned the unusual combination of bright yellow with the pink belt.
The fashion criticism extended beyond the evening gown to Trump’s earlier appearance that day. For her arrival at the UK, she wore a Christian Dior Haute Couture dark gray suit paired with a wide-brimmed plum-colored hat that completely obscured her eyes and much of her face during photographs with the royal family.
The oversized hat prompted additional mockery online, with users suggesting she had joined witness protection or was in “sleep mode.” One particularly viral moment captured Trump’s head completely hidden from view while standing alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, leading to jokes about her appearing like “a coat and a hat rack.”
Trump’s fashion choices created a stark contrast with Princess Kate, who opted for an elegant, high-neck gold-lace gown with a white underlay for the state banquet. Kate’s couture creation by British designer Phillipa Lepley was completed with earrings belonging to the late Queen and her signature Lover’s Knot tiara.
Despite the criticism, some supporters defended Trump’s outfit choices, calling them “stunning” and “beautiful.” Others interpreted her bold fashion statements as deliberate messaging, suggesting she was indicating a more serious approach to her second term as first lady compared to her previous tenure.
The state visit marked a significant diplomatic occasion, with President Donald Trump becoming the first elected political leader in modern history to be invited to two state visits by monarchs. The late Queen Elizabeth II previously hosted the Trumps during his first presidential term.
The visit included a busy schedule of diplomatic events, with Trump and the first lady receiving a personal greeting from King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales upon their arrival on September 17. The state banquet represented the formal centerpiece of the diplomatic visit.
Following the state dinner, Trump and Princess Kate were scheduled to visit Frogmore Gardens together on September 18 as part of the president’s second state visit, marking their first solo outing without their respective spouses. The planned visit included meeting UK Scoutmaster Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels program, with Kate serving as co-president of the Scout Association since 2020.
The fashion controversy overshadowed what was intended to highlight the diplomatic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom under the new monarch’s reign. The state visit carried extra significance given the transition from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III since Trump’s previous official visit to Britain.
Trump’s fashion choices throughout the day generated numerous viral social media posts and memes, with photographers capturing particularly unflattering angles of the wide-brimmed hat that concealed her face during key photo opportunities with the British royal family.
