WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Former first lady Melania Trump is speaking at the National Archives at a ceremony commemorating Bill of Rights Day, which could have political benefits.
While the event will be an apolitical naturalization ceremony for 25 new U.S. citizens, Trump’s appearance gives her a prominent speaking engagement a month ahead of the caucuses in Iowa, where her husband, former President Donald Trump, will be on the ballot.
The former first lady has been absent from the campaign trail in recent months, but this event, which she was reportedly personally invited to by U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan, provides an opportunity for Melania Trump to discuss her story as an immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen. The contrast comes as her husband has touted stricter immigration policies for a second term, if elected in 2024.
The appearance by Melania Trump also comes as Donald Trump has been involved in a legal case in federal court over his alleged mishandling of classified documents, which saw him in a battle with the National Archives over which documents he could keep after he left office in January 2021.
The naturalization ceremony will take place in the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, providing a historic backdrop for the new U.S. citizens from various countries, including Afghanistan, China, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
The rules for speakers at naturalization ceremonies bars candidates for office from speaking three months prior to a primary or general election at ceremonies run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Friday ceremony does not fall under these guidelines, but the former first lady would be in accordance with those rules regardless.
The former first lady’s last public appearance came at the funeral service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter, where Melania Trump was joined by all other living current and former first ladies.
Melania Trump’s husband, Donald Trump, is leading the Republican presidential primary by a significant margin, per the RealClearPolitics polling average, and appears likely to advance to a rematch against President Joe Biden in the 2024 general election.
