Melania Trump
First Lady Melania Trump and US President Donald Trump (not pictured) attend the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, February 4, 2017. Reuters/Carlos Barria

Melania Trump has recited the Lord’s Prayer during her husband’s campaign-style rally in Florida on Saturday and Twitter was immediately lit up with both praise and condemnation. Supporters of US President Donald Trump praise the first lady for her demonstration of faith while critics claim she disrespected the separation between church and state.

The FLOTUS has started the Make America Great Again Rally with the words “let us pray,” and then recited the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven,” she said.

Netizens have expressed their thoughts about Melania’s latest public talk, mocking her accent and sniping that she had to read the prayer, which seems to be an indication that she does not know the Lord’s Prayer by heart.

Some Twitter users have pointed out that not all American people are Christians and that Melania should prioritise the country over party. “Melania starts the dictatorship rally with the Lord’s Prayer? NOT EVERY AMERICAN IS CHRISTIAN!!!! Country over party,” @JaimePrimak wrote.

Some question the level of the FLOTUS’ religious devotion as she appeared to read the prayer. Others have noticed her Slovenian immigrant’s accent. “With an hour’s practice I could probably say the Lord’s Prayer better in Slovene than Melania Trump does it in English,” @adrianshort tweeted.

“God Bless her, but listening to Melania do 'The Lord’s Prayer' sounds like someone getting cursed to become a 'Dracula,” @carnojoe wrote. Twitter user named @GerryDuggan wrote that Melania’s prayer did not work because “Trump is still there.”

Trump supporters, on the other hand, savour the “Libs flipping out” and appreciated the first lady’s demonstration of faith. According to Haaretz, issue claiming that Melania’s public prayer somehow shows a new joining together of church and state in the Trump administration is unfounded.

Other former presidents of the United States have often and openly offered Christian prayers during their term. The publication has cited former POTUS Barack Obama who offered prayers in public in July at the memorial service for police officers slain in Dallas, Texas. Former US President George W. Bush has declared national prayer days as a way to honour the 9/11 terror attacks.

Even Trump seemed happy about his wife’s gesture. After her prayer, the president said he was surprised that Melania has recited the Lord’s Prayer and thanked her for it.