Melania Trump sparks uproar after opening up on her 'immigrant story'

Critics have called out an almighty contradiction in the US government's values on immigration this week, after the First Lady shared the story of her move from Slovenia to the States.

Melania Trump appeared at the Kennedy Centre premier of her self-produced titular movie last night (29 Jan), detailing the chronicles of the days leading up to her right-wing husband's inauguration. Meanwhile, on the red carpet, the mother-of-one reflected on her supposedly humble beginnings after being asked if and how her life reflected that of the American people.

"I’m an immigrant, I'm coming from a different country," Melania told USA TODAY. "It's incredible - you will see some of it in the movie. I will talk about it.

"I'm very proud to be an American citizen."

The First Lady attended her movie premier yesterday (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Melania's 'immigrant story'

As a reminder, Trump's third wife was born in the Balkan country of Slovenia, moving from Europe to the US in August 1996 to pursue modelling.

Melania arrived on a B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa, which does not allow tourists to work in exchange for payment. It took a further two months for her to obtain a H‑1B work visa (a skilled-worker visa for models), which permitted her paid employment in America.

It emerged last year, however, that Melania had worked - earning a staggering $20,056 during this period - which would have made her an 'illegal immigrant', by her own husband's definition.

It's also vital to note that her most recent remarks come as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continued their violent immigrant crackdown on alleged 'illegal aliens', as authorised by Donald Trump.

Melania worked in the US illegally in the 90s (David Lefranc/Kipa/Sygma via Getty Images)

Trump's 'crackdown'

After being sworn into the White House for a second time last year, the Republican leader called on officers to 'do all in their power' to deliver 'the single largest mass deportation programme in history'.

Not only have the ongoing raids on housing, work places and public areas seen families torn apart and children arrested, but it has seen a handful of protestors to ICE's 'mission' killed in broad daylight - including but not limited to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both fatally shot by Border Force agents in Minneapolis within the last month. A total of eight people have been killed in 2026 alone in dealings with ICE, the Guardian reports.

'A complete disconnect'

Understandably, 55-year-old Melania's remarks haven't gone down too well with a number of critics of the current regime, with some pointing out an inconsistency in the treatment of Melania's story, compared to that of other immigrants.

Trump authorised ICE to lead a crackdown on immigration (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"So her immigrant story is worth glorifying but millions others are not? Smh," one Instagram user hit out following Melania's latest remarks.

Another jibed: "Did ICE check her documents?"

"The jokes write themselves," a third continued.

A fourth went on to add: "The irony of this is just disgusting. A complete disconnect."

"An immigrant who didn’t even go through the appropriate process is promoting her film," another pointed out.

"While immigrants who are going through the legal process are tortured and terrorised."

"How she can stand there as an immigrant while ICE do what they do is beyond me?" questioned a sixth.

"Neither her or Trump are human."