When we first learned that Donald Trump handed Vladimir Putin a letter written by Melania containing a plea for the safety and return of Ukrainian children on the frontlines, it sounded impressive. Someone needs to stand up for the kids caught up in the horrific slaughter, and there are many reports about Russian troops kidnapping Ukrainian children and sending them back to Russia. From Time in February comes one heart-wrenching story:
The longer they remain in Russia, the more difficult it will be to return and reintegrate them, as the effect of Russian propaganda and indoctrination takes hold over time. In one case, an 11-year-old boy named Serhii refused to speak to his relatives in Ukraine after spending only a few months in Russian foster care. “They completely brainwashed him,” his older sister, Kseniia Koldin, told me after she managed to bring him home. “They convinced him that Ukraine had been destroyed, that he would starve if he went back.”
If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine, you’re not human. And so yes, yes, it would be appropriate for an American First Lady to stand up for the kids and demand that Putin at least change course with regard to children on the frontlines. Set aside the fact that it should have been Donald Trump, as President, twisting Putin’s arm about those same kids all backed up with oil sanctions and more to really corner the Russians, this is about Melania’s effort.
It should be understood that had she simply clipped the above Time article to the letter (Or any of the many others) with a demand, “Leave the kids out of it, starting now!” I would be praising her. Though there is very little more satisfying than raking Melania over a bit, this is war and these are kids, just about anything is worthwhile, and easy to be gracious in the right moment. Alas, Melania embarrassed herself in the attempt, as impossible as that may sound, rendering the entire subject less compelling.
This is a real letter from Melania Trump to Putin and it’s one of the most vapid things I’ve ever read.
— Eric Columbus (@ericcolumbus.bsky.social) 2025-08-17T03:40:38.173Z
Where to even begin? First, of course, the “Hallmark” tone is not only inappropriate but also demeans real-life suffering. This isn’t about a child’s dreams; it’s about their rights, it is less about innocence than the laws of war, more about Putin’s putrid soul than any shared morality. Yet she makes it all just so dreamy. Get to the point if you have one.
How about a demand? She certainly has a platform. Why couldn’t Melania demand that Putin start putting mechanisms in place to get kids out of the picture entirely, either by returning them to their remaining families or at least the Red Cross? How about a promise to hold monthly press conferences with pictures and faces of kids, demanding the return of the children at the expense of international outrage? On this issue, Melania has the power to wield if only she would grasp it and set aside trying to sound like Frost. When dealing with the man who famously only respects strength, could she possibly have sounded weaker? As hard as it has been to defend the illegal invasion of Ukraine, imagine a First Lady out in front of microphones with pictures of kids, outraged about international kidnapping at the hands of Putin. Instead, she begged with flattery.
Sadly, Melania’s banality is one of the few givens in the Trump ecosystem. In the exact same way that the focus on cyberbullying in “Be Best” could have been one of the most timely and important First Lady causes in history, she wouldn’t back it up when it mattered most by simply saying something akin to “I wish my husband would stop some of these… ” What was Donald Trump supposed to do in retort? Dump her? Hardly. And so what of the Ukrainian children? Is Putin going to be worse to kids in response? No. Melania is in position to actually make demands, “Change or next time I go to the microphones…” and instead chose to kneel to Putin, desperate, fawning, even embarrassing.
As impossible as it may sound, Melania would have been better off not sending the letter at all. Now, Putin knows that she doesn’t have the strength to throw anything but rainbows at him. He knows there’s no risk whatsoever.
In so many ways, a Trump is going to Trump. Donald did nothing but roll out the red carpet and clap for the monster. Melania writes some nauseating letter that may as well have had hearts and stars drawn on it. Putin, meanwhile, walks away knowing that he need not spend an extra second worrying about either of them getting in his way.
Embarrassing. If only Putin had been a single mother of color working two jobs to pay for a broken-down car, those are the people on whom the Trumps are tough.
UPDATE: This is nearly unforgivable of me because I did notice that the signatures were a lot alike, right on down to the “Sharpie” tool. But many are speculating that it was Trump who signed the letter, and many more believe that the entire thing was AI-generated. I am skeptical of the AI claim because there is no “Extra-Sappy and Hallmarkish” button to push.
Nothing Melania is authentically her own, speeches, face, education, even her signature.
— Bill Wong (@ten24get.bsky.social) 2025-08-16T20:40:28.310Z
Wow Melania also uses a sharpie and the same penmanship of her felon husband. They’re both in the #EpsteinFiles and share the same signature!
🤣Did Trump forge Melania’s signature? 🤣
— 🪩💿🕺Mαყσɾ σϝ Fυɳƙყƚσɯɳ🕺💿🪩 (@mayoroffunkytown.bsky.social) 2025-08-17T12:17:42.819Z
P.S. I’m no handwriting expert per sé, but that “Melania Trump” signature at the bottom looks a lot more like Donald’s jagged scribble than his wife’s smooth cursive. What do you guys think?
Photo 1: Melania’s signature
Photo 2: Donald’s signature
Photo 3: Signature in letter pic.twitter.com/OgEW8UkuQY— Andrew—#IAmTheResistance—Wortman (@AmoneyResists) August 17, 2025
What is up with the alleged signature on the Melania peace letter? pic.twitter.com/fqbVLmUKTB
— Sue (@Pinkomomma) August 17, 2025
**** Please follow me now on Bluesky
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and also on X at @JasonMiciak.
Zoomers, we are always in need of donations. We work hard to get you analysis that you will not find in the mainstream media, but all media have been hit hard since the big companies have gobbled up and monopolized commentary. Anything you can spare will be immensely appreciated. And thank you to all who have donated generously already. Ursula
You (accurately) said Trump is going to Trump. I’d add that Melania is going to Mealymouth Mewl Melania.
She might as well have written: I sad over cheeldren. So much I work out deal with J.D who god weeling vill soon replace Donald. As you know he supports you owning the Ukraine (see – I say it way Russians do ‘THE Ukraine”) We have made deel to geeve you one brand new couch you get to pick out (promise still in packaging and J.D. hasn’t fooked it) for eech child you send back to reel parents. You can fook on them or make fun of Donald haveeng your pee whores soild them as reminder of tape you have. Purhaps same whores performed for Donald still available. His memory not so good anee more as you know but he surely remember that. Maybe for giving you idea and help on how discipline him to better helping you I get reeward from you? #Be Best, Melania
I’m telling you Melania is a spy
Sorry but there’s no way I can ever believe she could even write that nor would she. She doesn’t give anymore “fooks” for those kids than she does about Christmas. Remember her speech that parts were plagiarized from Michelle Obama because she’s really not that smart? Remember her coat that said “I really don’t care. Do you?” when she was visiting the border where children were penned up? Nope she doesn’t care nor can she write that well. She’s as ignorant and selfish as her evil husband.
Melania? Somebody imagined what and how Melania would write and sign such a letter. Not saying that there actually was a somebody but how many people in the world have a signature like that? Only one that I know. not sayng it was him but……
Must’ve used the wrong auto-pen