Former first lady Melania Trump delivered a speech Friday during a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives — as her husband faces criminal charges for withholding presidential documents from the agency.
The Slovenian-born former model is only the second foreign-born first lady — next to Louisa, the London-born wife of former President John Quincy Adams — and the only one to become a naturalized US citizen, having immigrated to New York City on a work visa in 1996.
“What a privilege to be with naturalized individuals and their families as they take the Pledge of Allegiance and become American citizens before the founding documents of our great nation,” Melania said in her speech.
The emergence of the Archives comes six months after former President Donald Trump was indicted on 37 charges for allegedly storing sensitive national security papers at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.
The allegations follow a lengthy back-and-forth between Trump, 77, and the National Archives, which has repeatedly asked the former president to return hundreds of documents starting in May 2021.
Trump, along with his valet Walt Nauta, checked boxes containing sensitive files and handed over some, but the Archives eventually referred the matter to the Justice Department after he failed to fully comply.
In January 2022, the 77-year-old former president sent 15 boxes of records to the National Archives, including 69 papers marked confidential, 98 marked secret and 30 marked top secret.
Former First Lady Melania Trump welcomes new citizens at National Archives ceremony. AFP via Getty Images Former First Lady Melania Trump departs after welcoming newly sworn-in Americans at the National Archives naturalization ceremony. AP
But hundreds more documents are still in Trump’s possession.
The former president lied to his lawyers and federal authorities when subpoenaed for the documents, the indictment alleges, instructing Nauta to hide the boxes in different rooms at a Palm Beach, Florida, resort.
On August 8, 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago and seized the remaining classified documents.
Former first lady Melania Trump said being a citizen means “protecting our freedoms.” AFP via Getty Images Former first lady Melania Trump stands with Judge Elizabeth Gunn (left) and US Archivist Colleen Shogan (right) as they pose with newly sworn-in citizens. AFP via Getty Images
Nauta was also charged as a co-conspirator, along with a property manager who was allegedly told to delete security camera footage of their efforts to hide the material from authorities.
Since then, Trump has also been hit with another federal indictment for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Washington, DC.
The Trump docket hearing is scheduled to begin on May 20, 2024, despite efforts by his team to delay it until after next November’s presidential election.
Former US First Lady Melania Trump speaks during a Naturalization Ceremony at the National Archives building in Washington, DC on December 15, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
The 45th president remains the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, leading the field by more than 47 percentage points, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
Friday’s ceremony marked a rare public outing for the former first lady, who says she supports her husband’s campaign but has yet to follow in his footsteps.
Melania, 53, also attended a memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter last month in Atlanta.
The former first lady said Friday that being a US citizen comes with great responsibilities.
From left, Judge Elizabeth Gunn, and former first lady Melania Trump welcome newly sworn-in Americans as the National Archives holds a naturalization ceremony with 25 people from 25 countries, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. AP
“This means actively participating in the democratic process and safeguarding our freedom,” he told the audience. “It’s a life-changing experience that takes time, determination and sometimes incredible 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 majority-Muslim countries, institute new “ideological screening” for all immigrants and end the constitutional right to birthright citizenship by signing an executive order on his first day. in the office.
The former first lady herself was an immigrant. AP
That would only allow children with at least one US citizen or legal permanent resident parent to be eligible for a passport, Social Security number and other benefits.
Friday’s ceremony featured 25 people from 25 countries taking the oath of office as new US citizens, surrounded by founding documents including the Constitution.
With Postal wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
