US First Lady Melania Trump’s visit to Texas to speak to children and officials at a shelter for migrant children Thursday kicked up a controversy due to the jacket she chose to wear on the occasion. The coat featured a graffiti writing on its back that read: “I really don’t care do u?”.

While the choice of her coat was heavily criticised, Melania’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said there was “no hidden message” in the former fashion model’s sartorial choice. She lambasted the US media on Twitter for focusing on her fashion choice.

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The $39 jacket from Zara has caused an uproar on social media.

US President Donald Trump later defended his wife’s choice of coat and tweeted that the quote on Melania’s coat “refers to the Fake News Media”.

“I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2018

Twitter users were quick to criticise the First Lady’s jacket faux pas and the not-so-hidden message.

One user made a point the jacket would likely have been received far better online, had it been worn on any other occasion.

Melania ignored questions from reporters as she entered the presidential motorcade.

She was not seen wearing the coat when she first arrived in Texas, but had it on when she returned to Washington.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump on Thursday directed his administration to keep illegal immigrant families together during the immigration process, after he backed down on the controversial migrant family separations policy.

Trump also blamed Opposition Democrats for the current crisis on the US southern border, which he said was causing tremendous damage and destruction.

“I’m directing the Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to work together to keep illegal immigrant families together during the immigration process and to reunite these previously separated groups,” he told his Cabinet members during a White House Cabinet meeting.

He said the only real solution was for the Congress to close the “catch-and-release loopholes” that had fuelled the child smuggling industry, and advocated for an immigration bill.

President Trump urged Democratic lawmakers to come out with a legislative solution to the immigration process, which, he said, needs to be merit-based.

(With agency inputs)