While many across the globe are focused on the spread of the COVID-19 virus, First Lady Melania Trump decided to share some good news.
On Thursday, March 5, Trump posted on her official FLOTUS Twitter account.
Along with some photos, Mrs. Trump shared:
"I am excited to share the progress of the Tennis Pavillion at [the White House]. Thank you to the talented team for their hard work and dedication."
I am excited to share the progress of the Tennis Pavillion at @WhiteHouse. Thank you to the talented team for their… https://t.co/w1LCR8IqbN— Melania Trump (@Melania Trump)1583428827.0
But rather than the "ooos" and "ahhhhs" she expected, Trump's posts got mainly boos and hisses.
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse There was always a tennis court on that exact spot at the White House. Implying this is a brand… https://t.co/IwkOYBP2Td— Pé (@Pé)1583510530.0
@4everNeverTrump @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse But was there a “pavilion”?— WyeToons (@WyeToons)1583510970.0
@pamwye @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse I mean, I'm sure there was covered seating available...— Pé (@Pé)1583515509.0
@4everNeverTrump @pamwye @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Yeah, but not just any pavilion, The Trump Grand Pavilion. 🤣— bj2048 (@bj2048)1583603208.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse 29 people were killed by a tornado in Tennessee, the world is shuddering as a pandemic expands… https://t.co/njCXJJLyf6— Mia Farrow (@Mia Farrow)1583443846.0
@FLOTUS @PressSec @WhiteHouse Tennis anyone? We're in a pandemic and she's working on a tennis court. Can these peo… https://t.co/ck98vL95rm— 🏈🌬𝓡𝓪𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪 🏈🌬 (@🏈🌬𝓡𝓪𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪 🏈🌬)1583430146.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse This is the most extraordinary thing to tweet in the midst of an epidemic. You really are amazi… https://t.co/FcDnfG85KA— Victoria Brownworth (@Victoria Brownworth)1583500661.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse UNREAL! The White House did a quicker job building Melania's "tennis pavilion" than getting tes… https://t.co/JnlyDVea1t— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah))))1583622715.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Thank you for dedicating your time to the underserved @WhiteHouse community and building the Te… https://t.co/VrgXRXOHzn— Brian Guest (@Brian Guest)1583600096.0
MELANIA: "So theez zee secret tunnel out of zee White House?" WOMAN: "Yes. Will you use it for your escape?" MELA… https://t.co/5nZMTvqLrX— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers)1583605417.0
Many people invoked the name of Marie Antoinette.
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Even Marie Antoinette would NOT have built private tennis courts during the outbreak of a plague! #BeBest #coronavirus— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah))))1583636510.0
Wow real Marie Antoinette energy with the timing of this tweet... https://t.co/9ODeKCyLwM— Nolen Gertz (@Nolen Gertz)1583483443.0
This is truly Marie Antoinette refurbishing Versailles. https://t.co/4CK2ZzmeVV— Jennifer Senior (@Jennifer Senior)1583524548.0
I know they say it’s always the little things that end up breaking you, but Melania building a Tennis Pavilion at t… https://t.co/vOH42HnYZ2— Matt Brennan (@Matt Brennan)1583469993.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse UNREAL! The White House did a quicker job building Melania's "tennis pavilion" than getting tes… https://t.co/JnlyDVea1t— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah))))1583622715.0
After the backlash, the First Lady responded with another tweet.
I encourage everyone who chooses to be negative & question my work at the @WhiteHouse to take time and contribute s… https://t.co/xKBaSx8Cg0— Melania Trump (@Melania Trump)1583592036.0
But people quickly called out the apparent hypocrisy of the FLOTUS and her #BeBest campaign.
@davidmweissman @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse You mean this standard? https://t.co/MmDCi7YkqN— Dump Trump (@Dump Trump)1583464380.0
@RobAnderson2018 @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Horrible woman. Almost certainly a Soviet-Bloc sleeper agent. She has a grot… https://t.co/Rg3sQD562J— orgfarmer (@orgfarmer)1583593858.0
"Marie-Antoinette’s reconfiguration of the Trianon gardens can be divided into two distinct phases. The first in 17… https://t.co/tJQ3WMtEKa— David M. Perry (@David M. Perry)1583601046.0
When people speak of the molls of crazy, authoritarian dictators amped up on amphetamines, they often compare Melan… https://t.co/uvk5Jpt6GJ— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers)1583614438.0
. @FLOTUS pushes back after being roundly criticized for posting earlier this week about the progress of the White… https://t.co/QhUtzYYe4r— Kate Bennett (@Kate Bennett)1583593991.0
#BeBest is the "fetch" of political branding. https://t.co/OhAq4I38wp— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers)1583616833.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse https://t.co/Dyhyk5EVQg— Devin Nunes’ cow 🐮 (@Devin Nunes’ cow 🐮)1583613582.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse good to know that the Third Lady is just as petty and spiteful as our corroded president— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich)1583596809.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Start with the guy you're married to. #BeBest should start with HIM! https://t.co/XrTPTYCAyH— D Villella ❄️ (@D Villella ❄️)1583603316.0
@FLOTUS/Twitter
It appears neither the original tweet by President Trump's third wife nor her scolding of her critics had the desired affect.
Maybe instead of #BeBest, someone could be better.