Former First Lady Melania Trump addressed newly naturalized citizens at a ceremony hosted by the National Archives.
Mrs. Trump spoke to a group of 25 immigrants representing 25 countries in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 15.
“You are American,” she told the group before detailing her own experience immigrating to the United States.
President Donald Trump’s wife grew up in Yugoslavia, which is now known as Slovenia, where she began her modeling career. After signing with Paolo Zampolli’s modeling agency, she moved to New York in 1996. She and the real estate tycoon were married on January 22, 2005, in Palm Beach, Florida. In 2006, their son Barron was born and Mrs. Trump became an American citizen.
“The pathway to citizenship is arduous,” she said during her speech. “I was born and raised in the picturesque country of Slovenia where my parents taught me the importance of strong work ethic and pursuing my dreams. … The values they instilled in me at an early age passion my modeling career and brought me to Paris and Milan.”
She said that while working in the U.S., her life “turned into organizing paperwork.”
“'Patience and perseverance became my constant companions,” Mrs. Trump said. “For me reaching the milestone marked the sunrise of certainty. At that exact moment, I forever discarded the layer of burden connected whether I would be able to live in the United States. I hope you have similar feelings of comfort right now.”
Mrs. Trump said becoming an American citizen gave her “a tremendous sense of pride and belonging” and “comes with responsibility.”
The National Archives announced on Dec. 4 the former first lady would speak during its annual celebration of Bill of Rights Day.
“It means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom. It also means leading by example and contributing to our society,” she said. “It is a life altering experience that takes time, determination and sometimes even tremendous strength. You are now a part of a nation with a rich history of progress, innovation and resilience.”
“Bill of Rights Day commemorates the ratification of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution on December 15, 1791. In President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 proclamation, he asked that December 15 be ‘set apart as a day of mobilization for freedom and for human rights, a day of remembrance of the democratic and peaceful action by which these rights were gained, a day of reassessment of their present meaning and their living worth,’” the federal organization said in a press release. “For 232 years, this landmark document has guaranteed our freedoms of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
According to The Daily Mail, U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan invited Mrs. Trump to speak at the event. Shogun worked for the White House Historical Association during President Donald Trump’s administration.
The speech marks one of a few public appearances made by Mrs. Trump since her family left the White House in 2021.
