#PUTMELANIATRUMPONTHECOVEROFAMERICANVOGUE #VOGUE #AMERICANVOGUE #AMERICAFIRSTLADYMELANIATRUMP #MAGAAMAERICAN #MAGAUSA #MAGA

I'm looking forward to President Donald Trump's second term in office - to date the most transformative and disruptive leader in American history. Most significantly under the first Trump administration the landmark Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed which, one of its programs, infused stimulus directly into the pocketbooks of American households. Signed into law on March 27, 2020, the administration's goal for the $2 trillion CARES Act was to "...make sure Americans stay safe during this crisis and that our economy is loaded to spring back when this global scourge recedes..."said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Along with households the act earmarked funds for safety net programs directed at firms of all sizes and across industries. It also sought to make funds available for projects that addressed infrastructure preparation planning, including "economic recovery planning and preparing technical assistance strategies..", "preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics", and most notably in my opinion the investment in the county's human capital "implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies" which in practice stands in stark contrast with the manner in which similarly developed governments interact with its people. Of the $900 billion in jobless benefits distributed to the about 17 million Americans who lost their job at the outset of the pandemic - The Cares Act quickly distributed extended unemployment benefits to independent contractors and gig workers, added $600 a week on top of regular jobless claims and provided up to 13 additional weeks of benefits - according to the Government Accountability Office about $140 billion or only about 15% will probably be some degree of unemployment-insurance fraud that will go unpunished.

Still, this proactive measure - years later- underpins and aid in the health of todays economy, while comparable economies are softening, the Wall Street Journal dot com recently reported the U.S. currency is both strong and on an upward trajection. U.S. consumers also logged a 8.7 percent increase or $241.4 billion for the 2024 holiday season according to Adobe, for the November 1st to December 31st timeframe. With a key increase in mobile shopping accounting 54.5 percent of transactions, up from 51.1 percent in 2023.  

During Trump 2.0 the new administration also strategically placed those who it considers to be disrupters or political outliers - people like RFK Jr - as cabinet nominees. In a recent article President Trump's appointee for White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who happen to also be the first woman to hold the role in U.S. history, told the New York Times dot com President-elect Trump desired "disrupters" of the status quo" and would prefer a "...disrupter at the top and buttress the disrupter with people who know the business or agency..."        

The ushering in of a second Trump presidency has also reignited debates around the issue of free speech prompting prominent owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp owner Mark Zuckerberg to announce the end of his company's restrictive practices against free speech on its various social media channels. And conversations circled around the bias and one-sidedness of traditional media.     

Which leads me to Melania Trump, America's incoming first lady (who I just realized was born a few days after my mother - I feel a special connection to all Generation X babies lol) as the most influential woman in the world she has not been featured on the cover of American Vogue while in her capacity as first lady. While all her contemporaries and even a Vice President before being was sworn in, have all graced to cover of the so-called "fashion bible." 

Back in 2021 it was also reported by Fox News dot com that in the magazines 130-year history since its inception in 1892 Vogue "published by Conde Nast, has never once featured a Republican first lady or elected official as its cover model..." During the 2016 Trump versus Clinton presidential campaign the publication for the first time made an endorsement - for Clinton noting the exception motivated by "the profound stakes" of the election. (Which if we unpack the comment illustrates the rhetoric used at the time to discourage, shame, and scare people away from voting for Trump) When asked about the publication's double standards at the end of her first term as first lady Trump said "They're biased and they have likes and dislikes, and its's so obvious - And I think the American people and everyone sees it... And I have much more important things to do than being on the cover of Vogue." 

And as she is about to reenter the White House First Lady Trump is doing so on her on terms with no regard or maybe have better things to do than participate in "first lady traditions." Most recently Trump broke with a decades-old traditional when she declined an invitation from Jill Biden to tour the White House- a ceremonial ritual when the current first lady invites the incomings spouse to have tea and tour the executive mansion. Mrs.Trump is not the only first lady to ditch her "duties" former two time first lady Michelle Obama recently declined to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald J Trump and was absent at the funeral of Jimmy Carter. In my opinion both women are a example of the change of tides - people no longer going along with traditions or ritual just for the sake of portraying an image that is suitable for others. No they are not "angry" nor "lack respect for the office" - today's first lady is not defined by what or who her predecessor were yesterday. And I think both Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Obama are fitting first ladies for our time.