US First Lady Melania Trump criticised over 9/11 memorial outfit choice

The First Lady has been caught up in yet another fashion controversy, this time surrounding an awkward detail on her 9/11 outfit.

The White House has slapped down criticism of the US First Lady’s September 11 outfit after an unusual design fail on her designer coat was spotted by social media users.

The furore began earlier this week when President Donald Trump tweeted a picture of himself and wife Melania marking the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The photo shows the pair’s backs as they stand sombrely at last year’s commemorations at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in the US.

It was accompanied by the words “We will never forget” along with an American flag and the date of the 2001 attacks.

But it didn’t take long before social media users noticed an awkward feature of the First Lady’s outfit, which sent the tweet viral.

pic.twitter.com/WqBj8iMQhx

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019

If you zoom in on the bottom of Ms Trump’s coat, you can see a white trim stitching and a button tab which many claimed resembled a plane flying into a tower.

The navy coat was created by designer Herve Pierre, and was custom-made for the 49-year-old.

“I’m sure I’m not the first one to spot this but who in the world thought it was a good idea for Melania to wear this coat in the 9/11 photo. It legit looks like an object is flying into a tower or the Washington Monument,” Twitter user and former Bachelor contestant Ashley Spivey posted.

First Lady Melania Trump wore a less controversial outfit to this year’s memorial. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

“On 9/11, why would Melania Trump take any chances on her choice of clothing? Is she just tone deaf or something more sinister?” another user wrote.

However, some argued the backlash was “stupid”, with one Twitter user posting: “It’s a standard design for a fashionable coat — apparently a topic about which the first lady’s legions of haters are supremely ignorant.”

Other argued there was nothing unusual about the coat’s design and that the controversy was an example of “haters” trying to pick apart the First Lady for no reason.

A detail from Melania Trump's 2018 9/11 outfit has suddenly gone viral. Picture: Twitter

The backlash was so intense it prompted White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham — Ms Trump’s former press secretary, who now works for her husband as well — to hit back in comments provided to USA Today.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said of the viral criticism of the First Lady’s choice of outfit.

However, it’s not the first time the mother of one’s wardrobe choices have raised eyebrows.

Shortly after Mr Trump’s infamous “grab them by the p*ssy” comments were made public, his wife was spotted wearing a pussy-bow blouse.

And in June 2018, she wore a $39 Zara jacket bearing with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” before visiting children who had been separated from their families at the American border.

US First Lady Melania Trump’s Zara jacket caused quite a stir. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP Photo

And in October last year, she was roundly criticised for wearing a hat that resembled a pith helmet — an item closely linked to colonialism — during her highly-publicised visit to Africa.

The First Lady opted for a more unobtrusive outfit at this week’s memorials, donning a simple black Ralph Lauren dress during ceremonies held at the White House and the Pentagon.