First LadyMelania Trumpplayed host Monday evening to a private White House reception for Gold Star families—an event that was closed to reporters and news cameras, and one that comes after her25-day absence from the public eye.
“It was a privilege to welcome Gold Star Families to the White House today to recognize our nation’s fallen heroes and their families,” the first lady said in a written statement that was emailed to the White House press corps two hours and 37 minutes after the reception was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. “Thank you to those who joined us this evening and to the men and women currently serving overseas and to their families, thank you for your service.”
In that May 10 appearance, Mrs. Trump joined her husband at Joint Base Andrews to welcome home three Americans who had been held captive in North Korea.
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Four days later, the first lady’s office made the surprise announcement that she had undergone a“successful” kidney procedurethat day, but would remain hospitalized for the remainder of the week. The first lady reportedlyreturned home to the White House on Saturday, May 19, but has remained out of the spotlight since before her procedure.
Last Wednesday, as her husband and stepdaughter Ivankahosted a “Sports and Fitness Day” eventat the White House, the first lady did not make an appearance butsent out a tweetin an apparent effort to quash conspiracy theories about her ongoing absence.
“I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I’m doing. Rest assured, I’m here at the @WhiteHousew my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!” she tweeted, presumably from the First Family’s second-floor private quarters while her husband, hundreds of visitors and dozens of White House reporters were assembled on the South Lawn just feet below.
RELATED VIDEO:Melania Trumpto Remain Hospitalized for the Week After Undergoing ‘Successful’ Kidney Procedure
Days later, she skipped out on a weekend getaway with her husband and his family to Camp David.
Her spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, told PEOPLE last week that Mrs. Trump had been busy participating in “several internal meetings with staff all last week, and that continues this week.”
Grisham added, “We’ve been going over initiatives and other long term planning for events such as the Congressional Picnic and 4th of July.”
Grisham alsotold NBC News that the first lady won’t attend the G7 summitin Canada this week with the president, nor go on a June 12 trip to Singapore for a North Korea meeting.
source: people.com
