In a rare public appearance, former first lady Melania Trump stressed the importance of “guarding our freedom” and the responsibilities that accompany American citizenship as she spoke Friday at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives.
Quick Read
- Rare Public Appearance: Former First Lady Melania Trump made a rare public appearance to speak at a naturalization ceremony held at the National Archives.
- Emphasis on Freedom and Responsibility: Melania Trump stressed the importance of “guarding our freedom” and the responsibilities that come with American citizenship.
- Personal Experience with Naturalization: As a naturalized U.S. citizen herself, born in Slovenia, she shared her journey to American citizenship, starting with a worker visa when she arrived in New York City as a model.
- Significance of the Ceremony’s Location: The ceremony’s location at the National Archives was notable given its involvement in one of the criminal cases against her husband, former President Donald Trump, concerning the mishandling of classified documents.
- Reference to Donald Trump’s Legal Issues: The National Archives had referred to the FBI that classified documents were found in boxes recovered from Trump’s Florida home, leading to his ongoing legal battle.
- Donald Trump’s Trial Date: The trial for Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for the 2024 GOP nomination, is set to begin on May 20, 2024.
- Melania Trump’s Limited Campaign Involvement: While supportive of her husband’s campaign, Melania Trump has not been actively participating on the campaign trail.
- Donald Trump’s Immigration Policies: In his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump has pledged to return to strict immigration policies, including reviving the travel ban, initiating new screening processes, and seeking to end birthright citizenship.
- Ceremony Attendees: The naturalization ceremony featured 25 individuals from 25 different countries taking the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens, in the presence of the nation’s founding documents.
The Associated Press has the story:
In a rare appearance, Melania Trump welcomes new citizens at a National Archives ceremony
Newslooks- (AP)
In a rare public appearance, former first lady Melania Trump stressed the importance of “guarding our freedom” and the responsibilities that accompany American citizenship as she spoke Friday at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives.
Born in Slovenia, Melania Trump is the only first lady who is also a naturalized U.S. citizen. She recounted her path to that citizenship, beginning with a worker visa upon arriving in New York City during her career as a model.
“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 said.
The location of the ceremony was notable. The national repository for presidential documents has featured as part of one of the criminal cases pending against her husband, former President Donald Trump, as he seeks a second term in the White House.
The National Archives sent a referral to the FBI stating that 15 boxes recovered from Trump’s Florida home in January 2022 contained dozens of documents with classified markings, part of an investigation that has resulted in 37 counts of mishandling classified documents, including retaining classified information and obstructing justice.
Trump’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 20, 2024, despite efforts by his team to postpone it until after next November’s presidential election.
Friday’s ceremony marked a rare appearance for the former first lady, who has said she supports her husband’s campaign but has not yet been on the campaign trail as he seeks the 2024 GOP nomination. She attended the memorial service for Rosalynn Carter in Georgia a little over two weeks ago.
She said Friday that becoming a U.S. citizen comes with a great deal of responsibility.
“It means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom,” she said. “It is a life-altering experience that takes time, determination and sometimes even tremendous strength.”
In his latest campaign for the White House, Trump has promised a return to hard-line immigration policies if he wins the 2024 election.
Among his proposals, Trump wants to revive and expand his controversial travel ban, which initially targeted seven Muslim-majority countries, begin new “ideological screening” for all immigrants and end the constitutional right to birthright citizenship by signing an executive order his first day in office. That would only permit children with at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent to be eligible for a passport, Social Security number and other benefits.
Friday’s ceremony featured 25 people from 25 nations being sworn in as new U.S. citizens, surrounded by founding documents including the Constitution.
