First lady Melania Trump attended Ford Theatre’s annual gala by herself on Sunday, as President Trump prepares to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
The first lady made brief remarks as honorary chair at the event’s conclusion, according to her communications director Stephanie Grisham, thanking Ford’s Theatre and the performers for “a special evening” while also congratulating the recipient of the 2018 Lincoln Medal.
“Tonight reminds all of us about the power the arts have in cultivating the American voice,” Melania Trump said in a statement issued after the formalities. “The impact they have on society is invaluable and something we will continue to cherish throughout time.”
The gala was the first lady’s third public appearance since undergoing a procedure to treat a benign kidney condition on May 14.
She spoke at a White House ceremony on Monday honoring Gold Star families for Memorial Day, but it was closed to the press. In addition, she was at a FEMA briefing on Wednesday, but didn’t say anything in front of the cameras.
Ford Theatre’s annual gala is a bipartisan endeavor designed to celebrate former President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy, per promotional material.
We’re excited for the Ford’s Theatre Gala on Sunday, a bi-partisan event for the past 40 years celebrating Lincoln’s Legacy. pic.twitter.com/G3aDpN1J1a
— Ford’s Theatre (@fordstheatre) June 8, 2018
