Current:Home > MarketsIn a rare appearance, Melania Trump welcomes new citizens at a National Archives ceremony-LoTradeCoin
In a rare appearance, Melania Trump welcomes new citizens at a National Archives ceremony
View Date:2024-12-24 00:25:23
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.
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
veryGood! (34381)
Related
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- Plagued by Floods and Kept in the Dark, a Black Alabama Community Turns to a Hometown Hero for Help
- Some renters may get relief from biggest apartment construction boom in decades, but not all
- Trader Joe's recalls its frozen falafel for possibly having rocks in it
- Taylor Swift Becomes Auntie Tay In Sweet Photo With Fellow Chiefs WAG Chariah Gordon's Daughter
- PCE inflation measure watched by Fed falls to lowest level in more than 2 years
- Three killed when small plane hits hangar, catches fire at Southern California airport
- Maralee Nichols Shares New Photo With Son Theo After Tristan Thompson Pays Tribute to Son Tatum
- Wisconsin agency issues first round of permits for Enbridge Line 5 reroute around reservation
- Angels outfielder Taylor Ward placed on IL with facial fractures after being hit in head
Ranking
- Francesca Farago Details Health Complications That Led to Emergency C-Section of Twins
- Why residuals are taking center stage in actors' strike
- Sen. McConnell plans to serve his full term as Republican leader despite questions about his health
- Rams DT Aaron Donald believes he has 'a lot to prove' after down year
- Suspected shooter and four others are found dead in three Kansas homes, police say
- Alicia Navarro updates: Police question man after teen missing for years located
- July keeps sizzling as Phoenix hits another 110-degree day and wildfires spread in California
- The Chicks postpone multiple concerts due to illness, promise 'a show you all deserve'
Recommendation
-
LSU leads college football Week 11 Misery Index after College Football Playoff hopes go bust
-
July is set to be hottest month ever recorded, U.N. says, citing latest temperature data
-
Chick-fil-A to build new restaurant concepts in Atlanta and New York City
-
Barbie in India: A skin color debate, a poignant poem, baked in a cake
-
Jelly Roll goes to jail (for the best reason) ahead of Indianapolis concert
-
Boy George and Culture Club, Howard Jones, Berlin romp through '80s classics on summer tour
-
Ford to recall 870,000 F-150 trucks for issues with parking brakes
-
Meta's Threads needs a policy for election disinformation, voting groups say