Melania Trump criticised in first lady portrait, petition for her to move to the White House gets 500,000 signatures

Melania Trump, wife of Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, waves as she arrives to speak at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. — Melania Trump waves as she arrives to speak at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. Reuters/Mike Segar

Melania Trump deals with criticisms after the White House releases her first official first lady photo. Critics questioned why she folded her arms and wore a 13-carat emerald cut ring which reportedly costs US$1.5million ($AU1.9 million) while others were pointing that the photo was too heavily edited. Meanwhile, a petition that calls for the FLOTUS to move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave or pay her own security bill surpassed 500,000 signatures Monday.

The portrait shows the first lady in a jacket and black scarf with the White House windows on the background. Some Twitter users claim that Melania’s stunning look on the photograph was achieved by airbrushing.

“Melania's official portrait reminds me of how I once used iPhoto's retouch feature to airbrush my college photos into blurry oblivion,” one user wrote. Another netizen said he appreciated that the White House saved money by not hiring a talented photo editor to airbrush the first lady’s official photo, with some saying there was barely a person under the airbrushing.

Some Twitter users appear to make fun of the photo, suggesting it was taken on the set of Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back To Me" music video. While others are quick to criticise the FLOTUS, others are gushing on how beautiful she looks in her official portrait.

In 2009, Michelle Obama’s first lady portrait was criticised for wearing a sleeveless dress. Critics claimed her bare arms were too casual.

Melania’s official first lady photo was released amid petitions for her to move to the White House or pay for her own security bill as she lives with her son, Barron, at Trump Tower. "The US taxpayer is paying an exorbitant amount of money to protect the First Lady in Trump Tower, located in New York City," the Change.org petition reads.

Based on a letter obtained by the New York Times, New York Police Commissioner James O'Neil revealed that protecting the first lady and her son costs between US$127,000 (AU$ 167,000) and US$146,000 (AU$192,000). Jodi Quesnell of Sheridan, Wyoming says if the FLOTUS opts to live apart from her husband, the American Tax Payers “should not pick up the tab.”

Trump aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff previously told ABC News that the FLOTUS would stay in New York until Barron finished the school year. "I am honoured to serve in the role of First Lady, and look forward to working on behalf of the American people over the coming years,” Melania said in a statement about her first official portrait.