Melania Trump is already dividing opinion with one detail in her inauguration outfit choice
Viewers who have tuned into Donald Trump's inauguration have already pointed out one detail in Melania Trump's outfit as people get a first glimpse of the pair.
The incoming first lady arrived for a church service in the first sighting of herself and Donald Trump on Inauguration Day today (20 January).
At his inauguration, the 78-year-old Republican leader will be surrounded by his family - including his daughter Ivanka and wife Melania - during his oath ceremony, which is set to take place in Washington D.C.
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Melania's choice of outfit has now been spotted at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square.
She was seen wearing a black and white ensemble - but it was her statement hat which really caught the attention of people online.
Rushing to social media to share their thoughts on the get-up, one X user who wasn't a fan of the hat hit out: "I don’t like the hat. You don't wear a hat in a church. I’m old fashioned."
Others, however, rushed in to defend Melania for the accessory choice with a second writing: "Melania’s hat! [fire emoji]."
"That hat!" exclaimed a third while a fourth fan beamed: "Love Melania's hat! Why can't we all wear hats & gloves again? So stylish."
Another gushed: "Living for Melania’s hat moment."
"Melania’s 1920s style Gatsby hat is smoke show," echoed a final X user.
During her husband's first inauguration back in 2017, Melania donned a Ralph Lauren powder blue dress.
At the time, her spokesperson told WWD: "With the historic swearing-in of her husband, Donald J. Trump, as the 45th President of the United States, the first lady-elect will become America’s new First Lady wearing an American designer who transformed American fashion, Ralph Lauren."
Ahead of today's ceremony, the 54-year-old opened up about her living arrangements during Trump's second term as president.
She told Fox: "I will be in the White House, and when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach.
"But my first priority is to be a mum, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on January 20, you serve the country."
Reflecting on the first lady role, she added: "Maybe some people, they see me as just a wife of the president, but I'm standing on my own two feet, independent. I have my own thoughts.
"I have my own yes and no. I don't always agree with what my husband is saying or doing. And that's OK."
How to watch Donald Trump's inauguration live in the UK
The BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV will all be airing live coverage of Trump's inauguration.
The White House will also provide a livestream that can be watched anywhere in the world on their website.
What Donald Trump becoming president today actually means for women
Trump on the abortion ban
His first term in office offers some clues as to what Trump could do in his second term, and a federal restriction on abortion is not yet ruled out.
Since the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, which generally protected a woman's right to have an abortion, multiple states made abortions completely illegal.
During is term as president from 2017-2021, he supported a House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide after 20 weeks.
Despite this, there have been inconsistencies in his view on abortion rights.
During the final stages of his campaign in 2024, Trump said he thought individual states should determine their own abortion policies.
Trump and Project 2025
Known as the 'right wing wish-list', Project 2025 was created by the Heritage Foundation, one of Washington's most prominent right-wing research institutions.
And while Trump previously denied his support for the project, dozens of former officials from Trump's last administration - including many whomay be called to serve in his current one - contributed to the proposals laid out in the project.
Some of the proposals include withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, increasing the funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border, cutting federal money for research and investment into renewable energy, and more.
Trump on women's healthcare
There is currently an alarming increase in maternal mortality rates.
The Commonwealth fund reported: "In 2022, there were 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the US - more than double, sometimes triple, the rate for most other high-income countries in this analysis."
In response, Nancy L. Cohen, president of the Gender Equity Policy Institute, stated: "There’s only one explanation for this...all the research points to Texas’ abortion ban as the primary driver of this alarming increase."
Topics: Celebrity, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics, US News, Fashion
Rhiannon Ingle