Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy, recently shared a video on Instagram where he donned a blonde wig and read aloud First Lady Melania Trump‘s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, mocking her.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Melania Trump and to Schlossberg outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
In a letter shared to the first lady’s social media, Melania Trump appealed to Putin to “singlehandedly restore” the “melodic laughter” of children caught up in the nearly three-and-a-half years of full-scale war in Ukraine.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The letter comes as President Donald Trump met with Putin in Alaska, as relations have soured due to Russia’s refusal to ink a ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. to stop fighting in Ukraine. Though no deal was reached, Trump has described the summit as “useful,” pivoting his position on a ceasefire and saying that he would move straight to a permanent peace deal.
Ukraine has consistently said it wants to end the full-scale war in a lasting way. The current phase of the conflict sparked when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
What To Know
Schlossberg, 32, is a Harvard graduate, and his parents are JFK’s only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy, and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg. He regularly goes viral online and is known for using his social media to speak about politics and against Trump.
In the video, which has been viewed over 200,000 times as of reporting, Schlossberg dons a blonde wig and imitates Melania Trump’s accent, reading her letter aloud.
Toward the end of the video, Schlossberg criticizes the letter and says, “What am I saying, this makes no sense. Please be more specific, Miss Melania Trump.”
The video is consistent with the content Schlossberg usually shares. He has shared videos mocking public figures before, including a video impersonating White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Melania Trump’s letter has seen a mixed response, with some criticizing the gesture from the first lady, and others sharing messages of support.
What People Are Saying
Jack Schlossberg, speaking in his video shared to Instagram: “That was my dramatic reading of Melania Trump’s letter to President Putin. I don’t think it made any sense, I don’t think it said anything… A very confusing letter, a very confusing message, not that confusing of a conflict in Ukraine.”
Melania Trump, in her letter to Vladimir Putin: “A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation’s descendants begin their lives with a purity – an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology…. In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone – you serve humanity itself. Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today.”
@JohnMcCloy, in a post viewed on X over 180,000 times: “Putin was given a letter from First Lady Melania Trump requesting for him to end the war for the safety of the Children. I’ll bet it was very impactful and meant a lot coming from Melania Trump.”
@DesireeAmerica4 in a post viewed over 15,000 times on X: “It’s her most diplomatic, most humanist message yet. And it shows why she quietly serves as one of Trump’s most profound advisers and First lady.”
@TheMaineWonk in a post on X viewed over 84,000 times: “Trump down so bad, he enlisted Melania to try and bring Putin back to the negotiating table. Sad!”
What’s Next
Zelensky will meet Trump in the White House on Monday, along with European leaders and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. It is currently unclear how much progress will come out of the White House talks and whether Zelensky’s trip will bring a deal closer.
