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Melania Trump has just launched his solo career.
The first lady maintained a low profile than many of his recent predecessors in the White House. But this week, Mrs. Trump traveled to Africa for her first major international trip without her husband since the beginning of her presidency.
She arrived Tuesday morning in Ghana, where she went to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital to learn about the vitamin supplements received by the newborns and to get to the NICU, according to a pool report. A photo distributed to the press showed that Trump was distributing baby blankets and teddy bears. Later, she had tea with Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Ghana's First Lady, at the presidential palace.
Last week, FLOTUS preview what she said she knew she "will be a meaningful trip" to come while organizing a reception in New York in the honor of the participants in the General Assembly United Nations, including wives of foreign heads of state and representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (YOU SAID).
"October 1st will mark the first day of my solo visit to four beautiful and very different African countries – Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt – all of which have collaborated with USAID and our partners to great progress in overcoming some of their problems. the biggest challenges, "said Trump, who left late Monday afternoon.
"I am so proud of the work that this administration is doing through USAID and others, and I look forward to having the opportunity to convey the message of my Be campaign. Best to many countries and to children all over Africa, "she told the UN an event. "Whether it's about education, drug addiction, hunger, online safety or bullying, poverty or disease, these are too much often the children who are the first and the hardest hit, around the world. Each of us is from a country with its own challenges, but I know deep down in our hearts that we are united by our commitment to train the next generation so that it is happy, healthy adults. and morally responsible.
Trump has linked his trip to his "Be Best" child-centered initiative, claiming that there are "many programs across the country that are doing great things for kids, and I think we can replicate many of these programs abroad "in concert with USAID.
The first American ladies are traditionally dedicated to an iconic cause, and Trump deployed "Be the best" in May. The extensive campaign focuses on the well-being of children, with special attention to social and emotional health, the positive use of social media and opioid addiction. FLOTUS visited children's hospitals, address a summit on cyberbullying, and spoken youth groups as part of the program, among other events.
She tweeted about the campaign on September 4: "Students, while running #BacktoSchool, think about what you want to accomplish this year. You have so much power in your individual voices. Do you want to strive for #BeBest? "
This tweet, as was the case with the launch "Be Best" itself, got a immediate response– Many suggest that his war on social media bad manners should start with his own spouse.
Natalie Gonnella-Platts, Deputy Director of Women's Initiative George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, tells Charm that the visit to Africa could be a great learning opportunity for the first lady, given the central role that children play in "Be Best".
"If facing the challenges facing children [is] When Ms. Trump is truly engaged, this trip to Africa will open her eyes to the fact that many of the first African ladies have gone beyond traditional partners and have really thought about how they can interact directly with Africa. young people, "said Gonnella-Platts, who is working on the first initiative of the Institute for Women and Children around the world.
Gonnella-Platts and Trump both found that FLOTUS had already hosted the first lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyattato the White House. The two discussed Kenyatta "Beyond zero" program to improve maternal and child health.
Gonnella-Platts quotes, among other examples: the first lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos, who put her experience as a lawyer and private equity fund manager in the service of poverty alleviation, and the work of Ester Lungu of Zambia fight child marriage.
"While I understand the value of replicating successful national programs abroad, my recommendation to Ms. Trump is to also consider the current success at the local, regional and national levels in Africa," he said. declared Gonnella-Platts. "As [Geingos] said, "Change happens when we break silos and work together."
Still, it's really up to Trump to decide how she wants to handle a role that exists in a somewhat hazy area between public life and privacy, recognizes Gonnella-Platts.
https://twitter.com/TheBushCenter/status/1046867501127282689
"Our expectation at the moment is that our first ladies are active, make their voices heard, be present and play. And although I hope Ms. Trump is really committed to using her platform and really defines what she wants to do with 'Be Best' and really thinks about how she can engage local stakeholders – [and] if she does not, it's also her choice not to do it, "she says.
Mrs. Trump has already expressed the desire to do things in her own way and with her own perspective: she does not always pre-announce her public appearances (for various reasons that, according to a spokesperson, go from security considerations to avoid the risk of being caught. attracting protesters). From the beginning of the presidency, she held out until Barron completed her 2017 school year before to move to the White House. She appeared on more than a few opportunities to contradict her husband in a public forum.
At the same time, she did not avoid controversy – she generated a buzz (and money for fundraising for Democrats) with her now famous olive jacket she wore to visit migrant children separated from their parents on the US border.
"What fascinates me the most about Melania Trump is that she's doing it alone," she says. Lauren Wright, lecturer in politics and public affairs at Princeton University.
But that does not mean that her husband's critics and fans will not see what this trip means for the administration in general.
The first ladies are traditionally more popular with the public than their husbands, and the president wavers to a disapproval of 50%, according to the latest media. Rasmussen reports On the numbers track, the commander in chief might not worry about a little nudge.
This could be especially true at just over a month of a high-stakes mid-term election and in the middle of a battle on the fate of his second Supreme Court candidate.
Ms. Wright added that the first lady could use her current journey, as well as her appearances in the United States, to soften the president's image and portray him as "someone who cares about women, children." and people from his country and around the world who are going through difficult times. "
She predicts that FLOTUS 'trip to Africa "will probably improve Ms. Trump's opinion herself, but if she does not interact with the media outside of highly programmed interactions, and does not mention her husband, "said Wright," that's wrong, to change the way Americans perceive it. "
Whether it is the case or not – and whether or not it is part of Mrs. Trump's mission abroad – will be evident in the coming days.
Celeste Katz is a senior political reporter for Charm. Send tips, questions and comments to [email protected].
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