First Lady says goodbye with a recorded speech
First Lady Melania Trump says goodbye with a recorded speech
© Shutterstock.com / Ron Adar
The outgoing US first lady Melania Trump has published her farewell speech to the country. In it she speaks of "important experiences".
The US First Lady Melania Trump (50) has said goodbye to the country. The previously recorded speech was on Monday published on Twitter. She mourns the hundreds of thousands of Americans killed by the coronavirus, as she says while also being grateful for so many doctors, nurses and others who work to save lives.
"I have been inspired by incredible Americans across our country who raise our people through their kindness and courage, kindness and grace," said the outgoing first lady. "The past four years have been unforgettable. As Donald (Trump) and I finish our time in the White House, I think of all the people I have taken into my heart and their incredible stories of love, patriotism and determination", says Melania Trump.
She speaks of unity instead of division and the breakthroughs of the coronavirus vaccine, and she condemned violence in general. She once mentioned her husband (since 2005), US President Donald Trump (74), but did not address his second impeachment trial after the unrest in the Capitol, nor his upcoming Senate trial or his month-long campaign for the election to tilt.
Explanation a week ago
A week ago, Melania Trump had spoken about the storm on the US Capitol. In a statement, the First Lady of the USA said she was "disappointed and discouraged" after the events and expressed her condolences to the relatives of the dead. She condemned both the violence and "unjustified personal attacks" on her person. The latter, in particular, was not so well received by the public.
On Monday, she spoke instead of the country, of solidarity, of what she will not forget from her time in the White House. By this she meant above all her children's aid initiative "Be Best", which had been one of her main priorities as First Lady. "When I think about these important experiences, I am humble to have had the opportunity to represent a nation with such kind and generous people," said Melania Trump.
"When I came to the White House, I thought about the responsibility I have always felt as a mother, to encourage people to give strength and to teach values of kindness," said Trump in her farewell speech. "Use every opportunity to show consideration for other people and to build good habits into our daily life (…) to concentrate on what unites us, to rise above what divides us, always love above the hatred, peace over violence and to choose others before oneself ", is their appeal.
Unusual handover
Neither she nor her husband should attend the inauguration of the successor to the office of US President, Joe Biden (78), unlike usual. Melania Trump has the new First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, 69, was also not shown through the White House, according to CNN. The Trumps will head to their private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida once its presidency ends on Wednesday.
Donald Trump himself cannot say goodbye to the population via Twitter. Because his account was permanently blocked at the beginning of January.