In a rare public appearance, former First Lady Melania Trump swore in 25 individuals from as many countries to become new American citizens in a ceremony held at the National Archives. These 25 individuals now join the ranks of American citizenry, having successfully completed the path to citizenship that Trump herself undertook in 2006.
Invited personally by the new archivist at the National Archives, Colleen Shogan, who formed a close relationship with her during her term at the White House, Melania Trump graced the occasion with her presence. Shogan is a former employee of the White House Historical Society, and the invitation served as a testament to their shared history of collaborations on various events.
What makes this occasion novel is its juxtaposition against the hardline immigration policies the Trump campaign is known for. The former President, Donald Trump, has time and again voiced his intent to fortify these tough policies, including amplifying the challenges to securing U.S. citizenship, if he returns to the office.
Drawing from her personal experience, Trump spoke about the challenges of the immigration process. She said her journey through immigration has helped her understand the difficulties immigrants face while seeking citizenship in the U.S.
Trump’s appearance at this event is perceived as interesting as she has often shown herself to be out of step with her husband, purposely differing from his stance. Evidently, when her husband was criticising the border and child-separation policies, she visited the border; she also issued a statement supporting LeBron James when the former President attacked him.
Adding a layer of irony to the occasion was its location, the National Archives, which is notable for being pivotal in a special counsel probe leading to Donald Trump’s indictment. The Archives had requested the Justice Department to investigate his handling of classified or presidential documents post his presidency, causing an investigation to be spearheaded, followed by an indictment, with the trial set in May.
Despite the intricacies of the event's location and timing, it was a moment of triumph for those who had long aspired to become American citizens.
