A recent social media post by the White House, featuring Donald Trump and Melania Trump, intended to show a romantic side of the couple, quickly backfired. The post showed the pair walking hand in hand after signing an executive order. The caption highlighted their partnership, calling them “America’s power couple” and even referenced a famous love song to emphasize the moment. The post received 42,000 likes, signaling some approval online.
However, the response was far from unanimous. Melania Trump’s sudden visibility, after being mostly absent from public or official events, made the attempt at a feel-good moment particularly noticeable. Observers noted that she had spent very few days at the White House during the early period of the Trump administration. This rare appearance sparked curiosity and a wave of reactions across social media platforms.
Newsom’s Press Office Hijacks the Moment
The situation escalated when California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office responded in a bold and mocking manner. They reposted the White House’s romantic photo of the Trumps, but paired it with another image showing Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, a controversial figure. The caption read, “The internet knows who the real power couple is,” clearly taking aim at the White House’s attempt to present a wholesome image.
Trump accused of ‘knowing about the girls’ in Epstein leak — Newsom claps back with viral fury
The timing of the post was significant. This week, renewed attention was drawn to Trump’s connections to Epstein after a massive release of documents. Over 20,000 pages of estate records became public, revealing details of previous interactions. One email specifically suggested Trump was present during events with victims, according to the documents. Trump initially dismissed the documents as a “hoax” but later called on House Republicans to vote on their release.
The reaction to Newsom’s post was immediate and dramatic. It far outperformed the original White House post in terms of engagement, racking up 170,000 likes compared to the 42,000 likes of the official post. Social media users quickly expressed amusement and support for the governor’s jab, further amplifying the mockery.
Internet Reacts to the Public Show
The public response highlighted the disconnect between the White House’s messaging and online sentiment. Many users criticized the attempt to promote Donald and Melania Trump as a “power couple”, with some calling it one of the worst attempts at damage control seen online. The contrast between the two posts—the romantic image versus the controversial association—resonated with the audience, leading to widespread discussion and sharing.
This incident shows the power of social media in shaping public perception. While the White House aimed to craft a polished, affectionate image of the Trumps, Newsom’s office leveraged current controversies to undercut the effort. The result was a dramatic online conversation that far exceeded the reach of the initial post.
The saga unfolded quickly, with users from across the internet weighing in on both sides. Many highlighted the timing of the posts, connecting them to the recently released documents and Melania’s limited public appearances. Overall, the online engagement suggested that humor and timing played a crucial role in shaping public response, creating a significant moment in the ongoing online discourse surrounding Donald, Melania, and Jeffrey Epstein.
