For nearly two decades, Kim Kardashian “broke the internet” with her bare-bottomed magazine spreads and bikini-clad Instagram selfies.
But on Monday, the reality TV personality broke the internet with an Instagram Story of somebody else: First Lady Melania Trump. The snap, which featured Trump’s viral wide-brimmed hat at her husband President Donald Trump’s inauguration, took Kardashian fans by surprise.
Despite sharing a close relationship with first daughter Ivanka Trump, the Skims founder and her famous family rarely publicize their political leanings and when they do, the Kardashian-Jenner clan tend to lean towards Democrats.
The post has ignited backlash because Kardashian — one of the most outspoken, famous and influential women in the world — rarely speaks up about her politics and remained mum during the 2024 presidential election.
Kim Kardashian posted a photo of First Lady Melania Trump (right) on her Instagram Story and the internet went up in arms.
In 2016, Kardashian endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her race against President Trump, which he ultimately won. After former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2020, she posted three blue hearts on X alongside a picture of the pair.
Kardashian’s Instagram Story took a portion of her 350 million followers by surprise — and fans can’t seem to keep up with the Skkn mogul.
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Kim Kardashian and Ivanka Trump, right, are close friends. Here the pair are pictured at a first Trump era criminal justice reform forum in June 2019.
Fans lash out at Kim Kardashian for posting Melania Trump
After posting the First Lady, fans lashed out at Kardashian for her perceived endorsement in her Instagram comments. Kardashian posted the photo without comment.
One commenter said, “girl…. sold out out for far right maga propaganda.”
Chicago food blogger Teri Turner of @nocrumbsleft fame commented: “Well at least we can see exactly who you are.”
“UNFOLLOWED!” one user said, while another simply added that “Guys unfollow, don’t watch their show and don’t buy their products. Hit them where it hurts.” Another Instagram account that commented said, “You post Melania but not Martin” as Inauguration Day landed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Melania Trump post follows Donald Trump’s frustration with Kardashian
The President and Kardashian had a rift following their successful working relationship on criminal just reform during Trump’s first term.
After Trump’s first presidency, Kardashian reached out to him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in hopes he would endorse another clemency plea. The former president refused because he believed she voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 race for the White House.
Kardashian has not confirmed who she voted for in the 2020 presidential election. However, she publicly applauded Trump for working with her and the incarcerated people she has advocated for across the country. The reality TV star in 2019 admitted that she “did consider the fact that I would get a lot of backlash if I went to the White House.”
In October 2023, Kim Kardashian posted photo of Ivanka Trump
Kardashian previously enraged some fans when she posted photos from her 43rd birthday party with Ivanka Trump at Funke restaurant in Beverly Hills, California.
“So blessed to have hit the jackpot of friends! I couldn’t have ever dreamed I would be so lucky to call these girls my friends ✨ thank you for all the birthday love ❤️” she captioned the carousel, which featured the Trump heiress alongside Hollywood producer Lydia Kives and Jeff Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sánchez.
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Kardashian previously upset some fans with Tesla bot after President Trump’s appointment of founder Elon Musk
In November, Kim Kardashian invited her followers to meet her “new friend” which happened to be a Tesla bot.
Kardashian showcased her robot waving, dancing and forming heart-hands with her. But not all of her followers viewed the content as purely entertainment. Some took it as an indication that she voted for president-elect Donald Trump, who picked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to co-lead the inaugural “Department of Government Efficiency.”
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“Kim and her stupid robot is all I need to see to know she voted for Trump,” one user wrote. Another posted: “Women who support Kim K? Which is more important ya womanhood or skims? Make her feel it!… We know who she voted for now.”
Contributing: David Oliver, Marina Pitofsky, Alyssa Goldberg
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Kardashian posted a photo of Melania Trump. Then, the backlash.
