‘EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY’

Melania Trump Comes Out of Hiding to Welcome New Citizens

In a rare public appearance at a naturalization ceremony, Trump recalled her own “arduous” journey to becoming a U.S. citizen.

Melania Trump made a rare appearance in public on Friday, speaking at the National Archives Naturalization Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Speaking before 25 people from 25 different countries who were being sworn in, Trump recalled her own “arduous” experience in becoming a U.S. citizen.

“For me, reaching the milestone of American citizenship marked the sunrise of certainty,” she said. “At that exact moment, I forever discarded the layer of burden connected with whether I would be able to live in the United States. I hope you’re blanketed with similar feelings of comfort right now.”

Trump told the audience that she grew up in Slovenia and moved to New York City in 1996, wanting to continue her work as a model. She recalled that her life “turned into a labyrinth of organizing paperwork,” but she was “fortunate” to get legal help.

In 2018, The Washington Post reported that Trump was given a green card via the EB-1 program, nicknamed the “Einstein visa,” that was reserved for people with “extraordinary ability.” She then became a naturalized citizen in 2006.

“Becoming an American citizen comes with responsibility, it means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom,” she told the crowd.

“It also means leading by example and contributing to our society. It is a life altering experience that takes time, determination and sometimes, even tremendous strength.”