President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a heartfelt visit to North Carolina on Friday to meet with communities devastated by last year’s Hurricane Helene.
The powerful storm, which struck in September, tore through the Gulf Coast and left a trail of destruction in North Carolina’s mountainous regions. Asheville was hit particularly hard, suffering record-breaking flooding, widespread power outages, and extensive damage. Tragically, the hurricane claimed 104 lives across the state.
During their visit, the Trumps toured the areas hardest hit by the storm, offering support and bringing attention to the recovery efforts still underway.
Melania Trump dressed for the occasion in practical yet stylish attire. She wore a $995 Leonard Puffer Coat by Rag & Bone, an army-green jacket that paired seamlessly with black skinny jeans, combat boots, a beanie, and aviator sunglasses. However, her choice of outerwear drew comparisons to a controversial outfit she wore during a 2018 trip to a migrant detention center.
That outfit, an army-green jacket with the message “I really don’t care. Do U?” emblazoned on the back, sparked widespread criticism for perceived insensitivity. At the time, many interpreted the message as directed at the migrants she was visiting.
In her memoir, Melania, the former first lady addressed the controversy, clarifying that the jacket was never meant to insult the migrants. Instead, she said it was aimed at media outlets relying on “anonymously sourced reporting” to spread false narratives.
