From the looks of her Twitter account, First Lady Melania Trump is taking a keen interest into reports on her immigration status – even those that are questioning how she benefitted from laws her husband wants to end.
On Sunday night, the first lady ‘liked’ a tweet that questioned how she managed to most likely get an ‘Einstein visa’ reserved for people with unique abilities.
The ‘like’ came from her Melania Trump twitter account, which is different from her official @FLOTUS account as first lady.
Last week, the Washington Post reported that the first lady in 2000 petitioned the government for an EB-1 visa, a rare speciality visa reserved for ‘individuals with extraordinary ability.’
Only 5 people from her home country of Slovenia got them in 2001, as she did, having done modeling work including an appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
The first lady’s personal account ‘liked’ a tweet that included a link to a clip by the David Pakman show, where the host takes a critical view of how she obtained her status.
‘What exactly at the time were Melania Trump’s, or Melania Knuass’ at the time, credentials?’ Pakman asked on his program, which also rapped the first lady for not following through on an announced press conference to explain her immigration status during the campaign.
First lady Melania Trump (L) arrives in the East Room to deliver remarks during the White House Opioid Summit March 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. She came here on an EB-1 visa reserved for people with exceptional abilities, then got her parents in line for residency and citizenship
First Lady Melania Trump ‘liked’ a post that featured a link critical of how she got her status to work here on an ‘Einstein visa’ for people with exceptional abilities
The @MELANIATRUMP account ‘liked’ the tweet
EVENING READING: The ‘like’ was revealed Sunday night
As a legal permanent resident and then U.S. citizen, Trump brought her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, to the U.S. when she was a permanent resident. They have gotten green cards and are awaiting a citizenship ceremony.
The nature of her visa has drawn additional scrutiny as President Trump has railed against ‘chain migration’ and called on Congress to end it.
The proposal is one of the ‘pillars’ of his new immigration policy, and would have prevented her from bringing her parents over.
PAPERS IN ORDER: Viktor Knavs and Amalija Knavs, parents of U.S. first lady Melania Trump, arrive at the White House with the first family June 11, 2017 in Washington, DC
Mandatory Credit: Photo by MAI/REX/Shutterstock (9448050q) US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive back on the South Lawn of the White House via Marine One from Mar-a-largo, Florida Donald Trumps returns to the White House
Last month, Melania Trump’s lawyer confirmed that her parents were permanent residents, but nether the attorney nor the White House would state details about the nature of their status.
‘I can confirm that Mrs. Trump’s parents are both lawfully admitted to the United States as permanent residents,’ Michael Wildes, who also represents the parents, told the Washington Post.
‘The family, as they are not part of the administration, has asked that their privacy be respected so I will not comment further on this matter,’ he said.