Former first ladies Melania Trump and Hillary Clinton were among those selected to be honorary chairs of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation, along with first lady Jill Biden and fellow former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush.
“The Foundation is one of only two organizations to hold the extraordinary distinction of being chaired by all six living First Ladies,” wrote the foundation in a post.
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Authorized by Congress in 2020, the foundation will establish a monument to “commemorate women’s fight for the vote and honor the pioneers of the early American movement for women’s equality” in Washington, D.C.
“Every little girl who visits our Nation’s Capital is led to believe that she has had no role in building our democracy,” said Executive Director Anna Laymon in a press release.
“It was a privilege to join President Trump in the Oval Office when he signed the legislation authorizing this vital and overdue monument and to lead the 19th Amendment Project, which called on young Americans to celebrate 100 years of Women’s Suffrage through artwork. I am honored to support the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation to secure a monument of enduring inspiration for women and future female leaders,” Trump said.
Clinton added that “the suffragists fought to ensure women would have an equal voice in our democracy. They paved the way for the strides women have made over the last century, and theirs is one of the most important stories in our nation’s journey toward a more perfect union.”
The foundation, which notes that less than 5% of statues in the nation’s capital depict women, explained that the monument will be solely funded by private donations.
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As honorary chairs, the group of first ladies “will spearhead the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that the 36 million people who visit our National Mall each year experience a deeper and more inclusive American story.”
