First lady Melania Trump hosted a lunch on Wednesday in honor of International Women’s Day, inviting high-ranking Republican lawmakers and White House staffers to the State Dining Room event.
Second lady Karen Pence, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and Ivanka Trump attended the luncheon, along with dozens of other invited guests.
Melania Trump received a standing ovation when she entered the room, but her subsequent remarks were closed to the public.
President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made an appearance during the luncheon; Pence tweeted his “thanks to the inspiring women paving the way to a better future.”
Pleasure to be at lunch hosted by @FLOTUS & @SecondLady honoring #IWD2017. Thanks to the inspiring women paving the way to a better future. pic.twitter.com/3yl39QKe49
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) March 8, 2017
The president expressed his support for women on social media Wednesday in honor of International Women’s Day.
Although many women across the country stayed home from work Wednesday in protest of what they view as lingering inequality between men and women in society, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he was not aware of any women on the White House staff who participated in the strike.
