Van Jones, American news commentator, defended first lady Melania Trump in the wake of the social media firestorm she sparked after boarding a plane to the U.S.-Mexico border sporting a jacket with the words “I really don’t care, do u?” emblazoned on the back.
During a Thursday segment on CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time,” Jones, a frequent critic of President Trump, suggested the first lady’s detractors cut her some slack.
“You’ve got to give some kudos to the fact that she did stand up to her own husband, she did tweet about it, she did go down there,” Jones told host Chris Cuomo. “Maybe she should wear something different, but I wish more people in her position would stick up for these kids.”
Jones argued that people ought not be distracted by the first lady’s fashion choices, and, instead, focus on the problem that Mrs. Trump traveled to the border to witness firsthand.
“You gotta give some kudos to the fact that… she did go down there. Maybe she should wear something different… but I wish more people in her position would stick up for these kids.” @VanJones68 defends Melania Trump whose wardrobe choice drew controversy today #CuomoPrimetime pic.twitter.com/FG8MRKTnXq
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) June 22, 2018
Trump’s involvement with the border separation controversy has reportedly been more extensive than previously thought. On Wednesday, reports revealed that Melania had been urging the president for the past several days to end his administration’s zero tolerance policy on illegal immigration, which has resulted in thousands of migrant children being separated from their families.
Jones pressed people to focus more on those separations rather than on the jacket.
“Where are these babies, who is responsible? Don’t let the jacket become the issue,” Jones said. “The issue is, ‘Where are these babies?’”
On Wednesday, the president signed an executive order halting the family separations in a short-term fix.
The president tweeted an explanation for the first lady’s jacket on Wednesday, saying the “I really don’t care, do u” was directed toward the media.
“I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2018
