Entertainment News4 min(s) read
People can’t believe what ‘Woman in red dress’ behind Trump used to look like as old photo resurfaces
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
Public curiosity has sparked across major social platforms following a recent White House appearance featuring philanthropist Susan Dell, who people online have been referring to as the "woman in the red dress."
The 62-year-old advocate, who married Dell Technologies chief executive Michael Dell in 1989 and shares four children with him, has found herself at the center of widespread online commentary.
For decades, the couple has directed philanthropic efforts through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, created in 1999 “to accelerate opportunities for families and build pathways to change lives globally.”
Their relationship with Donald Trump spans years, but recent collaborations centered on a national financial initiative known as the "Trump Accounts" project.
Designed to launch $1,000 investment funds for infants born over the next four years, the initiative gained momentum after the Dells pledged $6.25 billion of their personal wealth in December 2025.
Viral White House appearance
Speaking at an Oval Office briefing on Wednesday, October 7, Susan Dell urged parents across the country to register their children for the program while confirming an additional pledge of $250 for 25 million young account holders.
Shortly after her remarks, online forums erupted with observations about her presence alongside the president during the announcement.
Official updates indicate that approximately 70 million children have already entered the account network. A massive drive by the Treasury Department automatically added 60 million minors to the system on October 1, supplementing 10 million earlier registrations logged since July 4.
"With automatic enrollment now complete, every American child under the age of 18 has a Trump Account in their name, making it easier than ever for families to participate," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
Highlighting the long-term wealth potential of these funds, the president offered a positive forecast for participants.
"So if all goes well, which I think it will, they'll end up being quite rich by the time they're 18 and then 21," he remarked.
Social media reactions
As clips of the briefing spread across video platforms, viewers expressed surprise at Susan Dell's posture and reserved demeanor.
"Her mannerisms [are] like a robot clone," one user reacted, while another said: "I was looking at the dress because I thought it was something with that until I looked up and got actually jumpscared."
A third added: "Nobody in this clip besides Trump looks like a real person, this is really weird."
Spectators quickly confirmed the identity of the figure standing in red as Susan Dell. She stood alongside her husband as Trump offered an unexpected endorsement, asking Michael Dell if his wife planned to pursue public office.
"This is legitimately one of the weirdest things I have ever seen. What the hell is this? Every single part of it. When can we go back to normal?" a user penned.
Another commented: "It gets worse the longer I look... is this a SNL skit?"
"Is this AI or something? Who are the people around Trump, and especially that weird woman?" a third added.
An old photo resurfaces
The viral moment prompted internet users to unearth photos from Susan Dell's former career in the high-fashion industry. An image from Olympus Fashion Week Fall in 2006 captured her dressed in an all-black ensemble, showcasing a distinctly different style from her recent Oval Office attire.
During that period, Dell operated as both founder and designer for her luxury label, Phi. Her Fall 2006 showcase at 76 9th Avenue in New York City earned widespread acclaim for its architectural tailoring and dark, modern visual direction.
Photographs from the presentation capture her mingling backstage and sitting front row with prominent industry figures.