Renowned social media influencer and Skims founder, Kim Kardashian, recently faced a backlash that led to a significant dip in her Instagram follower count—nearly 150,000—after sharing a post on her Instagram Stories featuring Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit.
Melania’s all-black ensemble, paired with a wide-brimmed hat, had already sparked online chatter, with some critics likening it to The Hamburglar, the famous McDonald’s character.
However, Kim’s post appeared to highlight the First Lady’s style, leaving many of her fans divided.
Although Kardashian didn’t include a caption, her focus seemed to be on Melania’s attire.
The beauty mogul has largely refrained from taking a public stance on political matters, including during the contentious 2024 presidential election.
Yet, the post sparked outrage among her Democratic followers, particularly given Kim’s history of proximity to Donald Trump and her refusal to endorse a candidate.
In just 24 hours after the post went live, Kardashian reportedly lost over 89,000 Instagram followers, according to influencer marketing agency Socially Powerful.
Her following on X also took a hit, dropping by more than 9,500.
The agency’s founder, James Hacking, weighed in on the fallout, noting how rare it is for A-list celebrities to openly engage with the Trump administration in its second term.
“This Trump administration is undoubtably a divisive one with many celebrities in Hollywood distancing themselves from showing support for the new President, however, it is interesting that Kim Kardashian, the original influencer, chose to make this move by posting a picture of the new First Lady, Melania Trump,” Hacking remarked in a press release.
He further added, “Whilst there was no caption from Kardashian, it is fascinating to see how a single image can see such a monumental drop in followers. Whether or not Kim, or any of the Kardashians for that matter, post about the Trump family or the administration again is yet to be seen, but it may come at the risk of losing many of their followers.”
Historically, the Kardashian-Jenner clan has remained tight-lipped about their political leanings.
The family, led by Kris Jenner and including Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie, and Rob, typically avoids public commentary on political matters, though Caitlyn Jenner, Kris’s ex, has been vocal in her support for Trump. Kim, however, has a history of working with the former president, most notably during her 2020 visit to the White House, where she collaborated with Trump to advocate for prison reform and reduced sentences for three female inmates.
She also maintains a friendly relationship with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, as evidenced by a birthday post featuring the two just days before the 2024 election.
The post featuring Melania struck a nerve with supporters of Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, who were quick to voice their disapproval online.
Despite the uproar, Kardashian has remained silent, continuing to promote her Skims shapewear line, including its upcoming Valentine’s Day collection.
Given the family’s history of handling controversies—either ignoring them or addressing them on their hit Hulu series The Kardashians—it seems unlikely Kim will publicly address this incident.
Still, the public remains curious about how this controversy might unfold and whether it could influence Kardashian’s carefully curated public image.
