Melania Trump’s immigration history has come under scrutiny again, with a Democratic lawmaker taking sharp aim at the former First Lady’s visa status.
This week, questions resurfaced about how Melania Trump originally entered the United States, sparking debate online and across political lines.
Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas raised the issue during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on June 25.
She criticized the Trump administration’s harsh immigration enforcement, particularly its treatment of legal immigrants, and questioned whether Melania received preferential treatment when obtaining her visa.
Crockett didn’t hold back. Addressing Republican members of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, she asked why there wasn’t more concern about immigration “integrity” when it came to the President’s own family.
Melania entered the U.S. using an EB-1 visa, often referred to as the “Einstein visa.”
This visa is typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities or accomplishments, such as Pulitzer Prize winners, Olympic athletes, or globally recognized experts, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Crockett challenged the idea that Melania qualified for such a prestigious visa. She pointed out that the requirements include major achievements in fields like science, the arts, business, or athletics, suggesting that Melania, as a fashion model, did not meet that high threshold.
She added pointedly, “We’re talking Nobel Prizes, Pulitzers, Olympic medals—some sustained, exceptional success. Melania, a model—though not on the level of Tyra Banks or Cindy Crawford—was granted an EB-1. Let’s be real, the numbers just don’t add up.”
Melania eventually became a naturalized U.S. citizen in July 2006.
The remarks have ignited widespread discussion on social media, with many users echoing Crockett’s criticisms and highlighting what they see as a double standard.
Some pointed out the irony of Donald Trump’s tough stance on immigration, given his own family’s immigrant background.
One Reddit commenter noted: “The hypocrisy is astounding—Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, while both his first and third wives were immigrants themselves.”
Another user speculated about the political fallout if the roles were reversed: “Imagine if a Democratic candidate had a spouse with this background. The outrage would be off the charts.”
Some comments were more biting. One user wrote sarcastically: “Send her to Guantanamo Bay! Or does that only apply to poor undocumented immigrants? I guess it’s different if you marry a billionaire.”
Another joked: “Can’t wait to see footage of her getting tackled by ICE agents outside her favorite nail salon.”
While Melania has stayed largely out of the spotlight in recent years, her visa history continues to draw scrutiny, particularly as debates over immigration policy remain heated.
