US4 min(s) read
Donald Trump’s new ambassador Barbera Thornhill goes viral immediately after announcement
Donald Trump’s newly appointed ambassador, Barbera Thornhill, has gone viral after her official photo sparked a wave of reactions.
On Tuesday (October 13), Riley Barnes, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, announced the 78-year-old as the new Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
"Human trafficking is a grave human rights issue and a transnational crime exploiting men, women, and children for profit. We will continue to go after traffickers, protect survivors, and deliver justice for the American people," Barnes wrote in the post.
However, instead of focusing on Thorhill's new role, social media users turned their attention to her appearance in the picture shared in the announcement.
As the image circulated, amassing 20.8 million views, several people questioned whether the photograph was real.
"This is a real picture?" one person asked, while another slammed: "This is the weirdest US administration in history. They’re like the cast of characters from a Tim Burton movie."
A third said: "How do I ask this delicately...Was the woman in some kind of tragic accident, or is this just an altered photograph?"
A fourth remarked: "There is something very wrong with this pic."
Who is Barbera Thornhill?
Thornhill has longstanding ties in Los Angeles, where she has previously served as the president of an interior design firm, Impact Design, Metro reported.
Over the years, she attended many galas and fashion events across the state and has also been linked to several charities and philanthropic causes helping children in poverty.
She has also made substantial political donations to President Trump and Vice President JD Vance's inaugural committee over the past two years.
However, her nomination has been criticized by anti-trafficking groups who have questioned whether her professional background prepared her for the role.
PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) welcomed a nomination, but said: "While having engaged in meaningful philanthropic and civic engagement on behalf of vulnerable children in Los Angeles and India, Ms. Thornhill does not bring significant experience engaging in federal anti-trafficking policy."
Thornhill has been compared to Susan Dell
The online reactions to the new ambassador have prompted comparisons to Susan Dell, the wife of billionaire Michael Dell, who went viral following an October 7 appearance at the White House, where she and her husband discussed their $6.25 billion commitment to children's investment accounts.
However, as videos from the event circulated online, some people began commenting on Susan's appearance and mannerisms rather than the couple's philanthropic announcement.
Older photographs of Susan also resurfaced, with many refusing to believe she was even the same person.
The online backlash eventually led her husband to publicly show his support by sharing messages from social media users who condemned the personal attacks.
One post he shared read: "My grandson got 250 dollars in his Trump account from Susan Dell. Please leave that woman alone."
He also reposted a message from a parent who praised the couple's generosity after receiving contributions toward their children's savings accounts.
"It's truly insane how evil and full of themselves people are," one user wrote, adding that their two sons had each received $250.
Trump's son Eric Trump also came to Susan's defense, denouncing those who have targeted her appearance instead of acknowledging the couple's donation.
"People are awful," he wrote, before highlighting the Dells' multibillion-dollar commitment to children's savings accounts.
"The response? Vicious attacks on her. I’m tired of this nonsense. Very few people have done more for philanthropy. It’s disgusting, and it has to stop," he continued, adding: "Susan, on behalf of the overwhelming majority of people in this nation: Thank You!! You are incredible!"