Melania embraces role of America’s first lady
Melania Trump’s invitation for high-powered women to join her at the White House was about more than the lunch they would eat, or the stated purpose of honouring International Women’s Day.
It marked a “coming out” for the first lady, seven weeks into President Donald Trump’s administration. After spending a couple of weeks hunkered down at the family’s Manhattan penthouse while Trump launched his presidency in Washington, the former model is taking her first steps into her very public new role.
Mrs Trump strode into the State Dining Room for her first solo White House event after an announcer intoned, “Ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump,” and was greeted by the all-female group of about 50 people.
She asked guests for suggestions on how best to empower women and girls worldwide, possibly foreshadowing women’s empowerment as an issue she would pursue as first lady.
“I will work alongside you in ensuring that the gender of one’s birth does not determine one’s treatment in society,” she told guests, according to a tweet by a White House official.
The first lady has made other quiet appearances, watching her husband sign legislation and executive orders, and accompanying him to the Capitol for a speech to Congress.
She took her counterparts from Japan and Israel on cultural outings and quickly learned the burden of new scrutiny and protocol when she was criticized for not being at the White House to greet the Japanese prime minister’s wife.
Complicating her White House launch is the couple’s decision for her to continue living in Manhattan until their son Barron finishes the school year.