Melania Trump’s update on the construction of the White House’s tennis pavilion did not go down well.
The first lady on Thursday tweeted a series of pictures of herself — wearing a hard hat — supposedly overseeing the works:
I am excited to share the progress of the Tennis Pavillion at @WhiteHouse. Thank you to the talented team for their hard work and dedication. pic.twitter.com/Wzown2ho26
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) March 5, 2020
Critics called Trump out over the timing of her post.
It came amid rising public anxiety over the spread of the coronavirus that has resulted in the deaths of 12 people in the U.S. so far. Federal health officials insist, however, that the overall risk to the public is still “low.”
“29 people were killed by a tornado in Tennessee, the world is shuddering as a pandemic expands and what is a tennis pavilion?” asked actor Mia Farrow.
Others suggested Trump was showing “real Marie Antoinette energy.”
29 people were killed by a tornado in Tennessee, the world is shuddering as a pandemic expands and what is a tennis pavilion?
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) March 5, 2020
It is not the fact that tennis courts are being built at WH that is at issue (by all means, build them), it is the ignorance surrounding the optics of voluntarily promoting these private benefits during the ongoing public health & financial crisis.
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) March 5, 2020
Seriously, what don't you get? https://t.co/DVvVAU3pZA
"excited to share my new cake," tweeted marie antoinette https://t.co/bFbeGAetj9
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 5, 2020
Wow real Marie Antoinette energy with the timing of this tweet... https://t.co/9ODeKCyLwM
— Nolen Gertz (@ethicistforhire) March 6, 2020
For those who aren't adept with dogwhistles:
— Bob Chipman (@the_moviebob) March 5, 2020
Trump can barely walk anymore and the rest of the family doesn't play tennis. This is ONLY so they can post photos of the *basketball court* Obama had installed being demolished to build it. (also in proximity to Michelle's garden) https://t.co/qjo5GOyyEh
My classroom doesn't have books or pencils.
— Mari Jeranek Errico (@mteaches) March 5, 2020
Somehow I don't think kids in cages have a use for a tennis pavilion.
— Fini de Jouer (@DunPlayin) March 5, 2020
Making Marie Antoinette look like Che Guevara. https://t.co/XwMWrKE5BA
— J. P. Gownder (@jgownder) March 5, 2020
Ah, yes, this is the change the forgotten men and women of this country always wanted.
— Paul 👻 (@pablo_honey1) March 5, 2020
I hope Hunter Biden is the first to play on it #BeatTrump https://t.co/vrmKC6dDBv
— Maysoon (@maysoonzayid) March 5, 2020
Well, it's nice to know all the best people have their priorities straight. Also, kudos on wearing a hard hat in the very, very dangerous tennis pavilion zone. And yes, thank you so much for the "dedication" of the talented team. It's not easy to be dedicated to something so... https://t.co/wcvWSv8lzX
— Hart Hanson (@HartHanson) March 5, 2020
so they've built... half a wall. that's pretty on-brand. https://t.co/Tt1j4rVLpo
— Nicky Woolf (@NickyWoolf) March 5, 2020
Americans died and lost their homes in Tennessee, but Melania Trump concerned about wasting tax payer money on a tennis pavilion. The victims would appreciate a visit and support.😳 #TennesseeTornado #TennesseeStrong
— Jules Morgan (@glamelegance) March 5, 2020
oh very chill! we could sure use those hard hats and rebuilding tools here in Nashville where a tornado devastated our communities and took lives, please send them and not your husband!!! https://t.co/AXHHD0Uo5f
— Marissa R. Moss (@MarissaRMoss) March 5, 2020
Good to know they are on top of the public health crisis at the White House. https://t.co/yq4YglUWZN
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) March 5, 2020
This is where she ultimately says "Let them eat cake," right? https://t.co/nljr3I70JD
— Bill Prady (@billprady) March 6, 2020
3 years later they finally start on it. They will spend millions destroying a basketball court for something none of the trumps will ever have the opportunity to use and even if they could use it not a single one of them would. They just wanted the basketball court gone. https://t.co/vK0RW887vn
— Russell Foster for Congress (@RussellFosterTX) March 5, 2020
Let them lob serves https://t.co/mGWU8SLUWO
— Fiddler (@cFidd) March 5, 2020
meanwhile, people dying of coronavirus... 🤦♂️🤷♂️
— Christian Sanz (@csanz) March 5, 2020
Michelle Obama was ridiculed for 8 years for putting a vegetable garden on the White House lawn.
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) March 5, 2020
Meanwhile, Melania Trump would like to update us on the progress of her new White House 'Tennis Pavilion.' https://t.co/oPE6x0XURj
The only thing that comes to mind is "let them eat cake"
— Peter Shea (@pshea15) March 5, 2020
The world and country is in the midst of a pandemic and she's out talking about a private tennis court that only a small handful of people will ever use.
Seriously, use some of DJT's money to buy a fricking clue!
So nice to see that while people are going hungry because of Trump's food stamp cuts, Melanie gets a new tennis court that she'll never use.https://t.co/FC6UgZkJh2
— Justice is Coming (@firedup79) March 5, 2020
Priorities. Relatable. In touch with the people. https://t.co/lgaypIe86A
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) March 5, 2020
Looks like the walls around the tennis court are sturdier than that big floppy wall your... husband?... is building.
— Liddle’ Savage (@littledeekay) March 5, 2020
Also, folks are dying because of a pandemic. Just FYI, Marie Antoinette.
The entire world: There is a public health emergency!
— Nick Gallo (@nickgallo) March 5, 2020
Melania Trump:🏓 https://t.co/NoqbgQvCMu
The administration summed up in a tweet. Global pandemic, Nashville storms, people dying but don't worry the tennis pavilion is making progress. If only the Covid 19 response was this organized https://t.co/8yWLt2UVnS
— Gareth Kay (@garethk) March 6, 2020
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