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Geraldo Rivera defended Melania Trump after she faced criticism following her attendance at former first lady Rosalynn Carter's funeral.
The wife of former President Jimmy Carter died age 96 on November 19 at her home in Georgia.
Trump attended the funeral alongside other former first ladies including Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush. Also in attendance were former President Bill Clinton and current President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Rivera slammed people who mocked Trump over her fashion choice and general attendance at the funeral.
The former Fox News host took to X, formerly Twitter, to shut down Trump's critics.
"Disheartening to read snide remarks about #MelaniaTrump. I'm sure most Americans were glad she joined in honoring #RosalynnCarter," he began.
"Melania was snubbed & underrated when her husband was in office and she continues to be disrespected by those whose hatred of Trump knows no bounds."
Rivera's comments come a little more than a month after admitting he was embarrassed to have ever been friends with her husband and former President Donald Trump.
He said that in response to Trump's comments that immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country."
"I think it's vile. I think it's disgusting. It's very disappointing," Rivera told CNN's Abby Phillip.
"To sink to that level, it's for me a personal embarrassment that we were friends for so long.
"This language is racist, it is really disgusting, and, you know, some things cannot abide. We cannot abide certain things and he has crossed the line. I beseech his followers to listen to what he said about poison blood."
Newsweek contacted Trump's representatives by email for comment.
A number of high profile people, including actor Billy Baldwin, commented on Trump's attendance at Carter's funeral while taking aim at Donald Trump.
"Donald Trump didn't attend Joe Biden's inauguration. Rosalynn Carter wanted Melania Trump to attend her funeral. See the difference?" he posted on X.
While Trump's former aide and close friend, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, claimed the former first lady used the funeral as her own personal "catwalk."
"Melania Trump knew every time she made a public appearance, 'a picture would be worth a thousand words,'" she posted to X, formerly Twitter.
"In Melania's case, the picture would have to do all the talking. This time is no different! Melania made this service a photo op for herself, instead of handling her appearance with dignity and humility, she used it as a cat walk.
"Rosalynn Carter, is a national treasure who exemplified a life of humanitarian service with a spirit of generosity, dignity and compassion for all of God's children. May she rest in peace."
Trump's choice of wearing gray coat to Carter's funeral also sparked a lot of debate online, especially as the other first ladies chose to wear dark colors.
However, Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, told Newsweek the outfit was appropriate for a funeral.
"It would be a different story if Melania Trump wore hot pink, or bright red, but rather she chose a somber gray, which is a perfectly acceptable color for funerals," she said.
"Her choice of outfit was conservative and respectful. People are looking watchfully to find something to criticize, even when the criticism is not warranted, which probably has more to do with other issues, rather than Melania's outfit."
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more