Interesting photo. Who remembers these stories, from when questions arose regarding Melania’s immigration and citizenship status?
Melania: "I followed the law" as an immigrant (POLITICO)
The complicated immigration history of Melania Trump (LA Times)
Many questions, few answers (Washington Post)
Gaps in Melania Trump's immigration record raise questions (POLITICO)
Melania has asserted that she became a legal US citizen in 2006, ten years after first arriving here. Fine. We’ll take that at face value for now, in the absence of documentation absolutely proving otherwise (leaving aside a certain tasteless photo shoot).
But it’s interesting that she says this, because her behavior at the inauguration as the flag passed by was absolutely on point — for a non-citizen.
United States Code, Title 4, Section 9: Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of the flag:
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
(Emphasis mine) (Source: US Code, Title 4 )
If Melania is a citizen, she’s in the wrong here: she should stand with hand-over-heart. But then again, her husband is also wrong. With his much-publicized history of 5 draft deferments leading to his non-service during Vietnam, he is NOT a military veteran and so does not have the right to salute the flag (the President is, by definition, a civilian but may be a veteran, as we’ve had previously). The Code does further state that, as Commander-in-Chief, he could change that if he wants to — but it has to be in writing.
Small things? Yes. But if the right wing could take President Obama to task over failing to wear a freaking lapel pin, I should think that an incoming President and his First Lady would have some idea of appropriate ceremony for their flag-loving supporters.