Photo: Alamy
First Lady Melania Trump delivered remarks on Tuesday at the annual International Women of Courage Award ceremony at the U.S. State Department, paying homage to the courage and tenacity of female warriors for justice and human rights.
The First Lady was introduced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who praised the women being honored and also complimented Mrs. Trump for being a woman of “tremendous courage and of great accomplishment.”
Mrs. Trump wore a sharp leopard-print jacket and black pumps for the event. She took the podium and delivered short but meaningful comments.
“Throughout my life, I have harnessed the power of love as a source of strength in challenging times,” she said. “Love has inspired me to embrace forgiveness, nurture empathy, and exhibit bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles.”
She continued, “Today we celebrate courage, a strength that is based in love. This truth is illustrated through our honorees who prove that love can inspire extraordinary valor.”
Tuesday’s International Women of Courage honored eight exceptional female leaders on the forefront of human rights, women’s rights, and beyond:
- Henriette Da (Burkina Faso)
- Angelique Songco (Phillippines)
- Namini Wijedasa (Sri Lanka)
- Amit Sousana (Israel)
- Georgiana Pascu (Romania)
- Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj (Yemen)
- Major Velena Iga (Papua New Guinea)
- Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit (South Sudan)
Mrs. Trump praised these women and described them as an “exceptional assembly” who have shown their love and refused to allow fear or hardship define them.
“Love serves as a powerful catalyst, instilling a profound sense of purpose in their endeavors,” she commented.
The First Lady continued, “…Their journeys remind us that true courage is born from a deep commitment for others, showing that love fuels the call for justice.”
“Let their stories motivate us to take courageous steps knowing that each act of love can spark a ripple of transformation,” she concluded.