As a young, ambitious model, Melania Trump embarked on her journey to the United States. Like many others, she applied for and received a visa in 2001, allowing her to work legally in the US. Over the years, she built a successful modeling career and is currently in her second term as the First Lady of the United States.
The topic of Melania’s visa has surfaced amid the Trump administration’s focus on immigration law reforms. Questions are now being raised about her eligibility to receive the visa she was granted.
Donald Trump, from the outset of his presidential campaign, advocated for a stringent approach to immigration, promising to take firm measures against undocumented immigrants in the US. Early in his term, he enacted executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
In a significant move, he called for the implementation of the “largest mass deportation programme in history” in June, sparking widespread protests nationwide. Furthermore, Trump has adopted a rigorous stance on visa policies, affecting students and others seeking to enter the US.
On June 4, a new executive order impacted Harvard’s student visa program, followed by a subsequent travel and visa ban for 19 countries. The public remains polarized on Trump’s immigration policies, with human rights groups accusing him of potentially breaching US law. Amidst this heated debate, Melania Trump’s visa story has captured public attention.
Melania, who was recognized as a promising model back in 2000, sought a work visa in the US. Before this, she was discovered by Paolo Zampolli, a co-owner of Metropolitan Models, who played a pivotal role in her visa application. It was also through Zampolli that Melania met Donald Trump. Since 1996, she had been in the US, first on a tourist visa, and then securing a series of work visas, as stated by her attorney in Newsweek.
Questioning Melania Trump’s Eligibility for Her US Visa
In 2001, Melania Trump secured an EB-1 Visa, also referred to as the “Einstein visa.” According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, this visa is meant for those demonstrating “extraordinary ability,” or notable professors, researchers, executives, and managers.
The government cites Pulitzer Prize winners, Oscar recipients, Olympic medalists, and other distinguished individuals as typical EB-1 Visa holders. The visa’s eligibility criteria bring Melania Trump into the conversation.
A congresswoman has questioned her procurement of this visa. She was among only five individuals from Slovenia who received such a visa in 2001, per The Washington Post. Is this a fair assessment?
Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat, criticized the first lady during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, targeting perceived inconsistencies in Republican visa policies.
“True integrity isn’t apprehending visa holders and bundling them into unmarked vans,” Crockett stated. “Nor is it revoking visas over social media posts that ruffle some feathers. In this country, we have the freedom of speech.”
“The Math Doesn’t Seem to Add Up Here”
Crockett acknowledged Melania Trump’s modeling career but raised doubts about her qualification for the visa in question. She challenged why scrutiny wasn’t being similarly applied to the immigration circumstances of those close to the president.
“Why is there silence on the president’s family’s visas?” Crockett asked. “To secure an Einstein visa, one typically has to have an achievement like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer, Olympic medals, or other notable accomplishments in fields like arts, business, or sciences. To my knowledge, the First Lady hadn’t achieved such accolades.”
“Melania, as the First Lady who pursued modeling—not comparable to top-tier models like Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford, or Naomi Campbell—was awarded an EB-1 visa,” she noted. “The math here doesn’t seem to add up.”
Melania Trump has not publicly responded to Jasmine Crockett’s remarks regarding her Visa. Meanwhile, online platforms saw some defending the first lady, interpreting the congresswoman’s words as envy.
A post on X read, “Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) unjustly targeted Melania Trump for her modeling career and subsequent visa acquisition. Claiming jealousy of Melania’s achievements.”
Congresswoman Suggests Melania Trump Could Be Deported
This is not the first instance where Melania’s status in the US came under scrutiny. In March, during an anti-DOGE protest in Los Angeles, Congresswoman Maxine Waters hinted at the possibility that Melania could face deportation.
“When Trump discusses birthright and suggests undoing rights for those born here with undocumented parents, perhaps he should start by taking a closer look at Melania,” Waters commented.
“We don’t know her parents’ documentation status. It may warrant further examination.”
What are your thoughts on Jasmine Crockett’s perspective regarding Melania Trump’s “Einstein Visa?” Feel free to share your views!
