WASHINGTON — With eight simple words Thursday, first lady Melania Trump defused a whole news cycle’s worth of stories claiming she has vanished from her husband’s administration.
“I heard you missed me,” she said alongside President Trump at a Rose Garden event for her “Fostering the Future” initiative.
“Here I am,” she added to laughter and applause from the audience.
Thursday marked the first public event in a month for Melania, who has spent most of the summer at the president’s golf club in Bedminster, NJ, in order to spend more time with her son, Barron, who is on summer break from New York University — and get away from the construction noise that can be heard daily around the White House complex as crews race to finish a new helipad and the controversial ballroom.
The first lady will be in Washington through the weekend to take part in festivities surrounding the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix, during which drivers will race through the streets of the nation’s capital at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour.
Before the green flag drops, the president and first lady will take part in a lap of honor around the race route, which begins and ends at the Capitol and winds around the National Mall and DC’s historic landmarks
To kick off race weekend, IndyCar and its broadcast partner Fox Sports announced a $2 million donation to establish scholarships for foster care children at Indiana University and Purdue University.
“The greatest investment America can make is not in technology, infrastructure, or capital markets — it’s our children,” Melania Trump said.
“America’s greatest competitive advantage remains in its own people. Tomorrow’s leaders are sitting in classrooms today, including those growing up in foster care. Their capability is no less remarkable.”
The first lady dressed patriotically for the occasion, donning a bright red Dior pencil skirt and an oversized sky-blue shirt by Michael Kors.
An IndyCar machine featuring the logos of the first lady’s signature initiatives — BE BEST and Fostering the Future — was on display during the event, while drivers Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Graham Rahal, and Scott McLaughlin presented Melania with her own customized helmet: a red, white and blue topper featuring Trump’s first name across the brow.
Thursday’s donation makes Indiana and Purdue the 25th and 26th US universities to offer scholarships to foster children.
“Fostering the Future”, part of the first lady’s overall “Be Best” initiative, works to improve the well-being, education and digital safety of foster kids.
Melania has also arranged for foster children to receive Trump Savings Accounts and hosted a summit of spouses of heads of government from around the world to discuss children’s issues.
She has also lobbied Congress to allocate more resources to foster children — a measure that has passed the House but still needs approval by the Senate.
