Melania Trump’s reportedly modeling background and immigration history unexpectedly took center stage during a fiery House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, where lawmakers clashed over visa integrity and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, delivered a scathing critique of the former administration’s handling of visa revocations and travel bans. “Integrity isn’t snatching lawful visa holders off the streets and throwing them into unmarked vans,” she said.
“Integrity is not revoking visas based on social media posts that hurt somebody’s little feelings, because kids decided they wanted to go after Trump or this administration. We have a thing called free speech in this country.”
Crockett questioned the selective outrage of her Republican colleagues, drawing attention to Melania Trump’s EB1 visa, known as the “Einstein visa”—a category typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields like science, arts, education, or athletics.
“Let me tell you how you receive an Einstein visa,” she began. “You’re supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer, being an Olympic medalist, or having other sustained extraordinary abilities and success in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Last time I checked, the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt.”
Referencing Melania’s modeling career, Crockett added, “Melania, the first lady, a model—and when I say model I’m not talking about Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell-level—applied for and was given an EB1 visa.” She closed her remarks with a punchline that drew attention on social media: “It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that the math ain’t mathin’’ here.”
Cato Institute vice president of economic and social policy, Alex Nowrasteh, present at the hearing, responded with a light-hearted defense. “Not everybody could marry Donald Trump, and I think that’s quite an achievement, so I think she deserves credit for that. Nobody up here could have done it!” he joked.
Crockett replied sharply, “You sure are right, I couldn’t have done it.” Melania Trump has been relatively low-profile in recent weeks, though she appeared alongside the former president at the Kennedy Center’s Les Misérables red carpet and the White House congressional picnic.
However, she drew attention for allegedly dozing off during the United States Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade on June 14, which also marked Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Her latest social media post featured a patriotic message celebrating the installation of a new American flag on the south lawn of the White House. The controversy surrounding her visa has reignited debates over immigration fairness, merit, and privilege at the highest levels of American politics.