Melania Trump came to the US as a young model and legally obtained a work visa in 2001, allowing her to work here. She built a successful modeling career and now serves her second term as First Lady.
With the Trump administration’s hard stance on immigration, Melania’s visa status has become a topic of debate. Some politicians are questioning whether she was even eligible to enter the US under the visa category she received.
During his presidency, Donald Trump signed orders to crack down on undocumented immigrants and enforce stricter visa policies, including targeting student visa programs and travel bans affecting multiple countries. These policies sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about civil rights.
Melania applied for a US work visa in 2000 with help from a modeling agent, Paolo Zampolli, who introduced her to Donald Trump. She initially entered on a tourist visa and later secured work visas, including the EB-1 visa in 2001.
The EB-1, or “Einstein visa,” is granted to individuals with extraordinary abilities, like Nobel laureates, Olympians, or acclaimed artists. Only a few people from Slovenia received this visa in 2001, including Melania.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett challenged Melania’s visa eligibility during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. She argued Melania did not meet the high standards required for the EB-1 visa, citing lack of major accolades or recognized extraordinary achievements.
Crockett criticized Republicans for not applying the same scrutiny to the president’s family’s visas as they do to others. She called into question the fairness and integrity of the visa process.
Melania has not publicly responded to these remarks, but many on social media defended her and accused Crockett of jealousy. Similar criticism surfaced earlier from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who controversially suggested Melania’s immigration status should be investigated.
What’s your take on this controversy? Do you think Melania Trump’s visa was properly granted? Share your thoughts in the comments!
