Ann Althouse, who for some strange reason is obsessed with AI in general and Grok in particular, asked her favorite bot, “Which U.S. First Ladies have received the cruelest treatment in the press (and in public conversation)? Especially which ones were disrespected as, essentially, whores?”
Anyone who doesn’t know the answer and the runner-up is both politically and historically ignorant. Obviously Grok informed Ann that Melania Trump is the “winner” and that it isn’t even close, telling the bloggress in part (my comments interspersed in bold),,
“Melania Trump stands out among actual U.S. First Ladies for receiving some of the most explicit, sexualized public disrespect in the modern era—being directly called a “hooker,” “whore,” or accused of having been a prostitute/escort. This came from tabloid stories, a New York Times reporter (who was reprimanded after a model publicly called out the comment), social media, and partisan commentary tied to her pre-White House modeling career and alleged links to escort services. She filed (and later settled or pursued) defamation suits, including a $150 million claim against the Daily Mail over “elite escort” allegations, which the paper retracted. Media and online discourse frequently framed her as ornamental, aloof, or unworthy in ways that veered into slut-shaming, far more personal and vicious than typical policy or style critiques faced by others. Some contemporary observers (across outlets) described her overall press treatment as among the worst for any modern First Lady.”SOME? There’s no contest! Melania is first, second, third…American First Ladies have always, always, been treated with respect by the news media, though there have been partisan critics of some First Ladies like “Lemonade Lucy” Hayes, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama, but nothing close to the venom heaped on Malania. Back to Grok…“No other serving First Lady matches this level of direct “whore/prostitute” framing in the historical record… The single most brutal sexual character assassination of a presidential spouse involved Rachel Jackson (wife of Andrew Jackson) during the 1828 campaign. Opponents dredged up her first marriage’s messy divorce and her subsequent union with Jackson, labeling her a bigamist, adulteress, “whore,” “harlot,” and woman of “open and notorious lewdness” in newspapers and pamphlets. She was devastated, withdrew from public life, and died of a heart attack shortly after the election (before inauguration). Andrew Jackson blamed the “slander” for her death and had “A being so gentle and so virtuous, slander might wound, but could never dishonor” inscribed on her tombstone.Note to Grok (and Ann): It wasn’t a “messy divorce,” it was a legally invalid divorce, so technically Rachel was a bigamist.
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Ethics Alarms 
Althouse’s question seems to be particulary leading, anticipating that Melania should be the correct answer, but testing whether the A.I. could give this correct but politically incorrect answer.
Asking “which first lady’s” were accused of being “whores” does not not seem like the kind of question one can ask without being at least minimally informed about the accusations being heaved at the incumbent first lady. It seems much more likely a test of the AI than a genuine question.
I think I would sooner take the opinions of General Patton on fashion than the opinion of Salon on the Laws of Armed Conflict.
Thinking back through the First Ladies I can’t think of too many who came in for too much abuse, even though I can think of a few who theoretically could come in for legitimate criticism. Rachel Jackson may have broken the laws of marriage, but she had nothing to do with Andrew Jackson’s time in the White House. Dolly Madison isn’t really known for much other than helping save Washington’s picture when the British burned the White House. Zachary Taylor’s wife was something of a recluse. Mary Todd Lincoln had some mental health issues. The first First Lady I can think of really worthy of criticism was possibly Frances Folsom Cleveland, for marrying a 49-year-old president and obvious groomer when she was 21. However, that’s more personal failing than professional.
Edith Wilson, who Woodrow Wilson was smitten with to the point where he sang “Oh you great big beautiful doll” about her probably ruled the country illegally while he had suffered a disabling stroke and hid it from everyone who should have known. Eleanor Roosevelt was not exactly attractive and had a big mouth, but so what? Jackie Kennedy was annoyingly thought of as perfect, even though she wasn’t. Nancy Reagan came in for some attacks for her “just say no to drugs” campaign, which sounded good, but really wasn’t practical for some kids (witness the PSA where an African-American boy hides on his way home, and the voice of an African-American man says “to Kevin, and all the other kids who take the long way home, we hear you. Don’t give up”).
Barbara Bush didn’t come in for too many attacks until her husband was out of office. Even Laura Bush, who could have been targeted because she was responsible for the death of someone else while drunk, didn’t get that much abuse. Hilary is sui generis, but she put herself out there, and showed herself to be a cruel, selfish, lying tyrant who thought she was above the law and above everyone else. Michelle Obama came in for some abuse, but of course she was protected by the media. Jill Biden also got protection from the media she didn’t deserve, for basically being a gold-digger and elder abuser.
No one else was called a whore and worse. Melania is anything but an idiot, in fact she is fluent in no fewer than SIX languages. There is no credible evidence anywhere that she was ever a sex worker, although she did work as a model, which is nothing like that. Never mind though, the point is that the media and the left hate her, so they can throw whatever insults and hate at her that they want, and she just has to suck it up. I feel really sorry for the next GOP fit lady, who is going to come in for a huge amount of abuse, deserved or not.
Found what I want on my tombstone. (Sorry, I have nothing of substance to add to the conversation, but I appreciate you bringing this phrase to my attention.)