Melania Trump Donates Second Inaugural Gown to the Smithsonian

The first lady is the first to have two gowns on display because of her husband’s two non-consecutive terms.

First Lady Melania Trump poses with her inaugural gown during an event at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History on Friday in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Trump donated her second inaugural dress to the museum, which was designed by fashion designer Herve Pierre, who also designed her first inauguration dress. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

In a first lady first, Melania Trump on Friday presented the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History with her 2025 inaugural gown to join the The First Ladies collection that also displays her 2017 gown.

Mrs. Trump spoke for just under seven minutes about the gown and what it means, describing it as not simply a garment, but as symbolic self-expression. In particular, she notes the importance of detail and describes how “the meticulously formed black shape ‘Z’ on the front bodice summons decades of my early memories, life experiences, and influences.”

About the garment she said “this is not a dress,” and described it as “more …