The US President spilled out several details about his wife’s trip to Africa, which she took earlier in the month, in his recent interview with Fox. When asked how Melania was doing, he revealed that she’s still reflecting on her impressions from her first solo international journey as first lady.
“She's doing fantastically, really good. She's doing a great job. Just got back from Africa. And she saw some things that were very eye-opening and tremendous poverty. Tremendous poverty. So we're trying to help,” he said, finishing the conversation.
The remark put Melania’s journey, which has already been mocked and trashed on several occasions, in the spotlight again.
READ MORE: 'I Don’t Always Agree What He Tweets' — Melania About Donald Trump Tweets
Some criticized Trump’s word choice, questioning how poverty can be “tremendous.”
Another inappropriate use of words from Trump in describing the "tremendous poverty" that Melania saw in Africa
— Steven Reeve (@srreeve) 30 октября 2018 г.
Others slammed the first couple for spending money on the trip instead of helping the poor.
Of course he did. Then again, if poverty were Melania's goal she could have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by looking in this country (hell, she wouldn't have to leave DC) instead.
— B McNeal (@Briankmcneal) 31 октября 2018 г.
There were those who suggested she could witness no less “tremendous” poverty in the US.
Perhaps, she should visit America.
— Eddy Budard (@Timothy61830730) 31 октября 2018 г.
She would be equally shocked to see some areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, etc.
— Laura Bradley (@LauranLafayette) 30 октября 2018 г.
Some asked how poverty in Africa is news.
What did she expect? Gold plated toilets?
— Linda Beckermann (@BeckermannLinda) 30 октября 2018 г.
This is news? To whom? The Trumps?
— coloradoBee (@bee_langbein) 30 октября 2018 г.
Others stuck to classic “facepalm” GIFs.
— Salty Squirrel (@MsSaltySquirrel) 30 октября 2018 г.
— Mayraw🇺🇸 (@mayrawDem) 31 октября 2018 г.
Early in October, Melania Trump undertook her first major international trip unaccompanied by her husband as FLOTUS, focusing the five-day African tour to Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt on child welfare and seeking to promote her May initiative Be Best, which is already in full swing back home. During her journey, she was repeatedly mocked for her outfit choice and clumsy encounter with an elephant.
Incidentally, Trump met a barrage of criticism across Africa and beyond after he privately referred to a number of the continent’s states as “sh-thole countries,” but declared at the United Nations as recently as last week that both he and his wife “love Africa.”