Written by Hannah Jackson, Vogue felt like the look made Melania look like a "freelance magician," while also saying that she "looked more like she was guest starring on an episode of The Apprentice than assuming the role of first lady of the United States," referring to her husband Donald Trump 's famous reality TV series.

Melania Trump’s official portrait differs notably from first lady portraits that came before and not just because it was taken in stark black and white.