At Her Own Pace, Melania Trump Tiptoes Into the Limelight
The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/?partner=msft_msn> By KATIE ROGERS2 hrs ago TORONTO Melania Trump took a quick break from Washington. Who could blame her? As President Trump spent the better part of his weekend lashing out at professional athletes, John McCain and Kim Jong-un, Mrs. Trump traveled abroad without him for the first time as first lady, touching down in Toronto to attend an athletic competition for wounded service members and veterans. In an official speech of 134 carefully selected words, Mrs. Trump told the American delegation to the Invictus Games to take that fighting spirit that I know you have, and bring home the gold! It was the latest in a recent string of high-profile appearances, all highly glossed and tightly controlled, that have fueled speculation about how Mrs. Trump feels about being first lady. Is she shy? Is she reluctant? Those who know her say theres no mystery: She is as cautious as her husband is impulsive, and shares little of his desire for the limelight. Still, eight months on, Mrs. Trump is hinting at an emerging policy platform. In the past week alone, in addition to the Toronto trip, she delivered a speech on cyberbullying at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and dug around with young visitors in the White House garden. At the games, she wore a crisp suit and a smile as she met with Prince Harry and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and later clapped for her countrys military heroes from her seat. But Mrs. Trump, like other first ladies before her, has made it clear that she <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/us/politics/melania-trump-first-lady.htm l> is in no hurry. She delayed moving from New York City to the White House to ensure a smooth transition for her 11-year-old son, Barron. And even as her schedule of events and travel starts to accelerate, Mrs. Trump has yet to make traditionally crucial East Wing hires that could help turn her initiatives, like her focus on cyberbullying, into reality. Stephanie Grisham, Mrs. Trumps spokeswoman, said in an email that Mrs. Trump had been delayed in hiring a policy director because she was working to ensure that the person is a good fit for the entire team. Mrs. Trump, 47, is far from the first person in the role to take time adjusting to the unwritten rules and expectations. Her predecessor, Michelle Obama, was less than enthused about life in the East Wing. Such spousal melancholy dates back to the countrys infancy: Louisa Adams, the London-born wife of President John Quincy Adams, spent much of her time in the White House in the 1820s depressed and binge-eating chocolates, <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/18/style/melania-trump-first-lady-white-hou se-washington-louisa-adams-pat-nixon-bess-truman-jackie-kennedy.html?mcubz=1 &_r=0> according to historical accounts. Things havent gotten that bad for Mrs. Trump. At the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games, the Slovenian-born first lady cheered for stars and stripes in an arena filled with maple leaf flags. The celebration, complete with dancing children and giant puppets, had a lighter air than her speech to the United Nations on Wednesday, in which she warned about the dangers to children posed by cyberbullying and drugs. We must turn our focus right now to the message and content they are exposed to on a daily basis through social media, Mrs. Trump said to a luncheon group, the bullying, the experience online and in person and the growing global epidemic of drug addiction and drug overdose. With her East Wing lacking policy muscle, Mrs. Trump has joined West Wing-led initiatives, including plans to combat the opioid crisis. She continues to receive briefings from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on hurricane relief, Ms. Grisham said. While Mrs. Trump has flouted some norms by, for instance, wearing stiletto heels while traveling to a hurricane disaster zone, she has brought some conventionality to a White House that often eschews it. In August, Mrs. Trump condemned the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., even as her husband made equivocal statements about the racists who were involved. As Mrs. Trump picks up speed, she has brought a friend and adviser closer to the formal operations of the East Wing. <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/fashion/inauguration-donald-trump-stepha nie-winston-wolkoff.html?mcubz=1&_r=0> Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former director of events at Vogue who worked on the inaugural committee, is now consulting for the first ladys office, the White House confirmed. Ms. Wolkoff, who had previously advised Mrs. Trump on everything from event planning to wardrobe choices, helped prepare Mrs. Trumps United Nations speech, along with others, according to Ms. Grisham. While there certainly is an adjustment period, that is to be expected, Ms. Grisham said of Mrs. Trump. She is staying true to herself and knows exactly what she wants to achieve as first lady. She is not one to seek out attention or photo ops, Ms. Grisham added. She is focused on being a mom, wife, and serving the American people. Anita McBride, who served as Laura Bushs chief of staff, said it would take time before Mrs. Trump might be ready to introduce a full-fledged plan to the public. Ms. McBride said it took Mrs. Obama over a year to roll out Lets Move!, her signature program to prevent childhood obesity. Mrs. Bush, she said, took about that much time organizing the first National Book Festival. This is the period of time where you do see a number of first ladies in recent history really begin to roll out their interests, Ms. McBride said. There is some regularity to the timing of what she is doing. Ms. McBride, who attended a dinner that the first lady hosted for the White House Historical Association at the White House this month, said Mrs. Trump was embracing some of the more traditional expectations that accompany living in the White House, and had grown to appreciate the potential power of her platform over time. Still, Ms. McBride said, given the presidents penchant for taunting tweets, the first lady is likely to face an uphill climb on combating cyberbullying. I do think she will need to be prepared for not being taken seriously in this because of some of the language and rhetoric that comes from her husband, Ms. McBride said. Youre not going to win everybody over. Whether or not her initiatives at home have a lasting effect, Mrs. Trump, who speaks multiple languages, is proving to be an asset on the world stage. She has accompanied Mr. Trump on his trips abroad, serving as a buffer in awkward handshake encounters <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/us/politics/president-donald-trump-hands hakes.html?mcubz=1> with world leaders, and notably <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/world/europe/melania-trump-pope-francis. html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FTrump%2C%20Melania> eliciting a smile from a sullen-looking Pope Francis. Patti Solis Doyle, a Democratic strategist who was an aide to Hillary Clinton when she was first lady, sees Mrs. Trumps travels as helpful to Mr. Trumps image. I think, she said, that Melanias husband needs a little good will around the world. EM On the 49th Parallel Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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