Trump contradicts Melania's spokeswoman and says first lady's controversial jacket had a message

Zara/Associated Press

Melania Trump Zara jacket

• President Donald Trump railed at critics who commented on a military-style jacket First Lady Melania Trump wore on her way to visit immigrant children in McAllen, Texas, on Thursday.
• "'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media," Trump said in a tweet, leaning on his habitual attack on the news media.
• Trump's tweet appeared to contradict an earlier statement the first lady's spokeswoman made in which she insisted, "there was no hidden message."

President Donald Trump railed at critics who commented on a military-style jacket First Lady Melania Trump wore on her way to visit immigrant children in McAllen, Texas on Thursday.

Melania wore a green jacket that said "I really don't care, do u" during her trip, and was also seen wearing it as she arrived in Andrew Air Force Base, Maryland.

"'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media," Trump said in a tweet, leaning on his habitual attack on the news media.

But Trump's tweet appeared to contradict an earlier statement the first lady's spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, made about the jacket, in which Grisham said it's not about the jacket and "there was no hidden message."

"I hope the media isn't going to choose to focus on her wardrobe. (Much like her high heels last year.)," Grisham said.

Melania's visit to McAllen comes amid the bipartisan backlash over the Trump administration's enforcement of a "zero-tolerance" policy - criminally prosecuting migrants who cross the US-Mexico border. That practice has resulted in the separations of thousands of children and families.

So far, the Trump administration has reportedly separated more than 2,000 children since early May. The reaction to the family separations prompted Trump to reverse course and sign an executive order to end the practice, although questions about its effectiveness remain.