Alison Rowat: Hurrah for Melania and the hat that cut Trump down to size
Every inauguration picture tells a story of the age, and what a Grimm cast of characters huddled close as Donald Trump was admitted once again to the highest office in America.
The tech bros from Silicon Valley, Elon, Mark, Sundar and Jeff (“Look, I’ve got a girlfriend!”), estimated worth close to a trillion dollars. The ambitious Trump sons and their sharp-elbowed wives. The politicians who had chosen to forget the day when a Trump-supporting mob rampaged through the very hall in which the grandees were now taking selfies.
A lot of happy people, and why wouldn’t they be? This already wealthy crowd is set to make out like gangbusters in the next four years as America sells off the family silver, and whatever else it can get its hands on.
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It would have been wholly depressing save for The Hat. Melania’s hat, that is. Made by Eric Javits, it was a striking, wide-brimmed navy number with an ivory ribbon at the base. One stylist called it “a spectacular use of signalling, blending Palm Beach and DC with international global fashion aesthetic”.
I don’t know about that about that, but it certainly made Mr Trump look foolish. He tried, really tried, to peck his wife on the cheek moments after he was sworn in, but the brim blocked his way. He eventually succeeded and looked at the cameras triumphantly, but it was too late. The world’s most powerful man had been suckered by a hat.
There was one other amusing scene with Melania at its centre. When Mr Trump was called forward to take the oath he was fast on his feet and even quicker to raise his right hand. The Trump........
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