Melania Trump reflects on her immigration journey in a rare address at the National Archives

Former first lady Melania Trump spoke on Friday about her personal experience becoming a US citizen and the challenges of navigating the legal system. She made a rare public appearance at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington. Melania applauded the 25 immigrants who were set to become US citizens and highlighted the obstacles immigrants have to overcome. She did not mention her husband, former President Donald Trump, who has promised a strict immigration policy if elected in 2024.

Melania Trump, who became a US citizen in 2006, shared that her own journey through the immigration process gave her a firsthand look at the struggles that many people face when trying to become US citizens. She described the hurdles of navigating immigration law, researching, and gathering necessary information and paperwork.

Melania Trump, the First Lady, addresses the crowd at a Make America Great Again event during a campaign stop in Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania on October 31, 2020.

Melania Trump joined the former first ladies club when she made an appearance at Rosalynn Carter's memorial service at the National Archives. This appearance comes almost two years after the agency requested that the Justice Department investigate her husband's handling of White House records. The investigation resulted in an indictment of the former president, who has pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges. The trial for this case is anticipated to begin in May in Florida.

The former president's associate emphasized his support for his wife's decision to participate in the event. Melania Trump, the second foreign-born first lady in US history, engaged in a conversation with US Archivist Colleen Shogan during her visit on Friday. Shogan extended a personal invitation to the former first lady to speak at the ceremony, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the National Archives to CNN. The two women previously collaborated on various projects during Melania Trump's time as the first lady, when Shogan was with the White House Historical Association.

A source familiar with the circumstances said Melania Trump considered the invitation "an honor."

Melania Trump, Judge Elizabeth Gunn, and US Archivist Colleen Shogan posed for photographs with a newly sworn-in citizen at the National Archives in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2023. In the image, Melania Trump is seen on the right, Judge Elizabeth Gunn on the left, and US Archivist Colleen Shogan on the far right.

Since leaving Washington in January 2021, Melania Trump has stayed out of the public eye while her husband pursues another White House bid. However, she recently stepped into a more traditional former first lady role by joining Jill Biden and former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton to pay tribute to the late Rosalynn Carter in Georgia. This is a common practice for sitting and former first ladies to attend the funerals of their predecessors.

Melania Trump attended her husband's presidential announcement last November, but has not appeared with him at any other public campaign events or his court appearances. Sources familiar with their relationship told CNN that she supports his decision to run for president, but her primary focus is on their son, Barron, who is expected to graduate high school in Florida next year.

September saw Donald Trump hinting at his wife possibly joining him on the campaign trail soon. During an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, he mentioned that she is a private, great, and confident person who loves the country, but he prefers to keep her away from the nastiness and meanness of politics.

This story and headline have been updated.