Former First Lady Melania Trump made a rare appearance on Friday, and it was at one of the last places you’d expect to see her.
Melania welcomed new American citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives — an agency that is prominently featured in one of the criminal cases Donald Trump is facing.
As the only first lady to also be a naturalized American citizen, Melania Trump spoke of the responsibilities that come with citizenship and the importance of “guarding our freedom.”
(Video: YouTube)
“How fortunate to be with the naturalizing individuals and their families as they recite the Oath of Allegiance and become Americans before our great nation’s founding documents,” she told the attendees before sharing recollections of her journey from her birthplace in Slovenia to becoming a U.S. citizen.
“The pathway to citizenship is arduous,” Melania said. “I was born and raised in the picturesque country of Slovenia where my parents taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and pursuing my dreams.”
“The values they instilled in me at an early age inspired my passion my modeling career and brought me to the beautiful cities of Paris and Milan,” she continued.
“While working internationally had its share of rules and regulations, it was not until I moved to New York City in 1996 that the system truly tested my determination,” she recalled.
Melania said she knew “immediately” that she wanted to make the United States her permanent home, and she began the process of securing a worker visa.
“Patience and perseverance became my constant companions as I navigated through this intricate web” of documents, she said.
The challenges were “numerous,” she told the crowd, but the “rewards” were “well worth the effort.”
She then spoke about the “ideals surrounding individual liberty and this great Republic” found in the Declaration of Independence.
“Becoming an American citizen comes with responsibility,” she said. “It means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom. It also means leading by example and contributing to our society.”
“It is a life-altering experience that takes time, determination, and sometimes even tremendous strength,” she added.
“You are American,” she told the new citizens. “Be a beacon of inspiration for your children and those who follow in your footsteps.”
It was a beautiful speech, but, given her husband’s contentious relationship with the National Archives, some wondered why she agreed to deliver it.
Trump fires back at ‘scam’ after National Archives says he took classified docs: ‘They did not find anything…’ https://t.co/mcK0DSofU0 pic.twitter.com/IsnlGcU0bi
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) February 19, 2022
According to the Daily Mail, it comes down to the former first lady’s “friendship with US Archivist Colleen Shogan.”
It was Shogan who personally invited Melania to speak at the ceremony, a National Archives spokesperson said.
“During Trump’s time in the White House, Shogan worked alongside her and her East Wing staff on numerous projects in Shogan’s roles with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and at the White House Historical Association,” DailyMail.com reports.
“Ironically, Shogan’s swearing-in ceremony as archivist was attended by Jill Biden,” the outlet notes. “Shogan was appointed to the archivist position by President Joe Biden in the summer of 2022 – shortly after the FBI raided Donald Trump’s home and seized thousands of pages of documents amid investigations into whether he took classified material from the White House after his presidency.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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