Picture this: you’re Michelle Obama. It’s Inauguration Day 2017, and you’re getting ready in whatever way you can to pass the torch to the Trumps. You’re waiting anxiously for their arrival, and (oh!) here they come. When Melania walks up in her all-blue trench (or is it a dress?), she’s carrying a large Tiffany & Co. box laced with white ribbon. It’s for you.
The gesture is kind. The box is big. But wait — you have no clue where you’re going to stash it. There’s no table, no place to go and the Marine to your left is stone-faced and unmoving. It’s just…in your hand.
That’s how the hilariously awkward gift exchange at Trump’s inauguration went down, and Michelle is finally, finally revealing what was in the box.
Michelle looked into the camera like Jim does in The Office ?? pic.twitter.com/J1CXrFaKHB
— Jesse ひ (@jessthesav) January 20, 2017
People had their ideas about the mystery item, including Obama’s birth certificate “encased in Tiffany crystal,” “Cheeto dust and a Nerf gun” and a box set of “The Apprentice,” Season 1.
Obama’s birth certificate, encased in Tiffany crystal.
— Richard Rapp (@rrapper) January 20, 2017
Cheeto dust and a Nerf gun https://t.co/8V8Jt6DtpF
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) January 20, 2017
Apprentice Season 1 DVD box set https://t.co/P3hV0PhFQM
— Clemzingis (@TheClemReport) January 20, 2017
During a sit-down with Ellen DeGeneres, Michelle told the comedian/host what we were all obviously thinking: “It was a lovely frame.” Right.
But hey, these Twitter users were pretty close:
guesses on what’s in the blue Tiffany box Melanie Trump brought for Michelle Obama? picture frame? scarf?
— Kira Kleaveland (@KiraTV) January 20, 2017
Figured out what was in the Tiffany gift box to Michelle from @MELANIATRUMP. Birth record frame. #Inauguration ? pic.twitter.com/qnMCp0zkNG
— Laretha Hulse (@LarethaHulse) January 21, 2017
“Well, there’s all this protocol,” the former first lady continued in a sneak peek of the episode, published by PEOPLE, that will air Thursday. “I mean, this is like a state visit, so they tell you that you’re going to do this, they’re going to stand here. Never before do you get this gift, so I’m sort of like, ‘Okay…'”
Michelle recalled scrambling to come up with something: “‘What am I supposed to do with this gift?’ And everyone cleared out and no one would come and take the box. And I’m thinking, ‘Do we take the picture with…?'”
But Barack, being…well…Barack, saved the day. “See, he grabbed the box and took it back inside. But everybody cleared out. No staff, no one. I was like, ‘What do you do with the box?'”
With one mystery solved, comes another: what photo, if any, did she put in that lovely Tiffany frame? The world may never know.
