Melania Trump hasn’t been in the public eye much since stepping back into her role as First Lady for her second term. A few weeks ago, though, she made a rare appearance alongside Donald Trump at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where they celebrated 250 years of the U.S. Navy. Her speech there stirred up some buzz, and now she’s back in the headlines—not for something she did, but for a hilarious takedown on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show.
Melania promised her second go as First Lady would be different, and she’s definitely keeping things low-key. Unlike her first term, where she was more visible, the Slovenian-born former model has been staying out of the spotlight since returning to the White House with Donald.
Lauren Benanti portrayed the First Lady (Image: colbertlateshow/Instagram)
But a few weeks back, she stepped out for that Navy event, rocking a cool, ‘Top Gun’-inspired brown bomber jacket. Her speech started with a bold “Hooyah, Navy!”—a classic military cheer—but the crowd’s reaction was… let’s just say, not exactly what she hoped for. There was some polite clapping, followed by an awkward silence that you could feel through the screen.
Some folks online loved Melania’s attempt to rally the troops. Others? Not so much. Social media lit up with reactions, and one X user summed it up bluntly: “Please make it stop.”
Fake Melania Steals the Show on Colbert
Fast forward to this week, and Melania’s back in the spotlight—sort of. On Monday night, comedian Laura Benanti took the stage on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, slipping into her spot-on Melania impression to poke fun at that Navy speech. She kicked things off with an over-the-top “Hooyah!” while Colbert, playing the straight man, pointed out it wasn’t exactly the right vibe for the occasion.
“Oh, Stephen, ‘Who-ya’ think is thrilled to be here instead of stuck on a double date with JD Vance?” Benanti quipped, channeling Melania with a smirk. “Here’s a hint: she’s got two thumbs and a rock-solid prenup.”
The jabs kept coming. When Colbert asked about her second term, Benanti’s Melania deadpanned, “It’s such an honor. I can’t wait to change my name to Melania Kennedy.” Colbert, riffing along, added, “The opera house would have your name on it,” prompting her to belt out an operatic note for laughs.
“The Sound I Make When Eric Calls Me ‘Mommy’”
Colbert, clearly impressed, said, “Wow, I had no idea you were a trained opera singer!”
Benanti’s Melania shot back, “Oh, no, that’s just the noise I make when Eric calls me ‘Mommy.’”
The roast didn’t stop there. When Colbert brought up rumors about Donald Trump’s absence from the public eye this summer—possibly tied to health issues like chronic venous insufficiency—Benanti’s Melania didn’t miss a beat: “Sadly, it’s true. He has a very small venous.”
According to Express, the audience was in stitches, and fans online couldn’t get enough. “I needed this laugh—Colbert, you’re still the king!” one viewer wrote. Another chimed in, “This Melania’s way more fun,” while a third called Benanti’s impression “the best, hands down.