“Melania Trump’s Powerful Message: Finding Strength in Love during Difficult Times”

Melania Trump revealed on Tuesday that ‘love’ has helped her during challenging times in her life. 

She shared at the International Women of Courage Awards that throughout tough times, she has relied on love for strength. Love has motivated her to practice forgiveness, foster empathy, and demonstrate courage when faced with unexpected challenges.

‘Today, we celebrate courage – a strength that is based in love,’ she told the female heavy crowd.

Her attire for the event included a belted-leopard print trench coat paired with her usual stiletto heels, marking her first public appearance in nearly a month. Sporting a rare smile, she applauded the honored women for their remarkable work.

While addressing the audience, she chose not to delve into her own personal struggles. However, she has previously opened up about feeling fearful during an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump and feeling frustrated about legal actions taken against her spouse.

But, on Tuesday, the focus was on celebrating international women. 

Melania herself is an international woman. She born in Slovenia and became an American citizen in July 2006. 

She and Secretary of State Marco Rubio honored eight women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership. 

‘Their remarkable stories a testament to the power of love in practice – for family, community and our world,’ the first lady said.

Several female members of the president’s Cabinet and his supporters were on hand to mark the occasion: Rubio’s wife Jeanette Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez de remer.

Rubio joked: ‘We’re missing Tulsi Gabbard. She’s probably spying somewhere.’

He commended the awardees for their courage and thanked them for their work ‘securing a more just world.’ 

It was the fifth year Melania Trump attended the ceremony. She also attended each year during her first tenure as first lady. 

This year’s group of honorees included Amit Soussana of Israel, who was held hostage after the October 7th attacks; Namini Wijedasa, a journalist chronicling atrocities in Sri Lanka; and Major Velena Iga, who has been a key figure in combating violence against women, sorcery accusation-related violence, and trafficking in persons in Papua New Guinea.

Melania Trump praised their work. 

‘This truth is illustrated through our honorees, who prove that love can inspire extraordinary valor even in the face of vulnerability,’ she said.  

Soussana, who became known for her candid account of the acts of terror she endured in captivity in Gaza, was the only honoree who spoke.

‘I was taken hostage by Hamas and held captive for 55 days, 55 days of fear, of pain and of being stripped of every freedom I once took for granted. In captivity, I had no control over my body, no control over my life. I resisted as best as I could, but it was not enough to stop what happened to me,’ she said.

She thanked President Trump for his work in releasing hostages.

‘I accept this award, not for myself, but in the name of all the brave women of Israel,’ she said.