Who better than Melania Trump to address new American citizens during a naturalization ceremony?

Melania Trump is a naturalized citizen herself. She is the second foreign-born first lady. She became a U.S. citizen in 2006. During her speech, she told the audience about her own story of moving from Slovenia in 1996. It was a rare public appearance by Melania. Since leaving the White House, she has kept a low profile.

She was dressed in a black pantsuit. The venue for the naturalization ceremony was the National Archives in Washington, D.C. That had to be a little awkward for her, given that the National Archives revealed that Donald Trump took classified documents with him when he left the White House. That disclosure resulted in federal charges against him.

Melania was invited to speak by U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan. She met Melania when Melania was first lady. She spoke to an audience of 25 immigrants from 25 countries who were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

‘You are Americans,’ she told them, congratulating them on their new status.

Melania described her journey from her childhood in Slovenia to her life in the United States.

‘Patience and preservence became my constant companions,’ she said. ‘For me reaching the milestone marked the sunrise of certainty. At that exact moment, I forever discarded the layer of burden connected whether I would be able to live in the United States. I hope you have similar feelings of comfort right now.’

Melania described her journey from her childhood in Slovenia to her life in the United States.

‘Patience and preservence became my constant companions,’ she said. ‘For me reaching the milestone marked the sunrise of certainty. At that exact moment, I forever discarded the layer of burden connected whether I would be able to live in the United States. I hope you have similar feelings of comfort right now.’

Melania gave some advice on what it means to be a good citizen.

‘Becoming an American citizen comes with responsibility. It means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom. 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. You are now a part of a nation with a rich history of progress, innovation and resilience,’ she said.

No arguments there.

It’s been two years since the National Archives and Record Administration asked DOJ to investigate Trump’s handling of documents from his time in the White House. Trump was indicted on federal charges. The trial is scheduled to start in Florida in May.

Another aspect with this story is that illegal immigration is a huge story because of the Biden border crisis. If Trump is re-elected in 2024, he pledges to expand immigration policies that would restrict legal and illegal immigration. The majority of American voters approve of that if it leads to border security. Immigration is not normally a hot-button topic with voters but it will be in 2024. Biden’s desire to leave the southern border wide open is not working out well. Even Democrats are taking notice and demanding changes.

So, Melania’s welcoming 25 new Americans is a feel-good moment. It may be a good moment for her husband’s campaign, too. Either way, the new Americans can tell their children and grandchildren that the former first lady spoke at their naturalization ceremony and she shared her story with them.