Melania Trump said she was “proud” to have her 2025 inaugural gown join the first lady’s exhibit at the Smithsonian, describing her black and white fashion statement as modern, bold, simple, and dignified.
At a ceremony on Friday at the Washington D.C. museum, Trump beamed with joy when she saw her gown in its display box.
“It’s incredible. It’s a historic moment,” Trump said.
Her longtime fashion collaborator Herve Pierre designed the white dress, with a black ribbon winding around it. The first lady also donated a replica of the historic Harry Winston diamond broach she wore to the three inaugural balls last January.
“This is not a dress,” she said. “This is more than 50 years of education, experience and wisdom realized with each thread, each stitch, each sharp edge.”
The dress was a plot point in Trump’s self-titled documentary, where she had fittings with Pierre and consulted on its design and fit.
The first lady noted the dress’s role in her documentary and said those scenes showed how much she loves the entire design process, from start to finish.
“It takes time, it’s slow, but the end result is always magical. If you had a chance to see my new film, MELANIA, you are well aware of what it took to bring this technical marvel to life.”
And she described fashion as “self care.”
“We must take pride, not only in the small rituals of self care, but in the courageous act of self expression. Our outward appearance to the world, the art of presenting oneself can be cultivated over a lifetime.”
Several governors’ spouses – in Washington DC for the annual governors meeting – joined Trump at the event.
The dress went on display immediately in the First Lady’s Exhibit at the Museum of National History, joining dresses from other first ladies, including Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.
Trump is the only first lady to have ballgowns from two non-consecutive terms in the Smithsonian collection. Francis Cleveland was also first lady for non-consecutive terms but that was in the mid-1800s, before the Smithsonian exhibit existed.
Smithsonian officials said they were honored to have the dress in their collection and invited the Trump to come visit it.
“In many ways, the First Lady’s collection is as much a timeline of American history as it is a look in fashion,” noted Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III in his remarks.
This is the second inaugural gown that Melania Trump has donated to the museum. She previously donated the cream colored, off-shoulder gown with red trim around the waist that she wore in 2017.
