First Lady Melania Trump was charmed by a young admirer while making Valentine’s Day crafts with children battling illness.
FLOTUS brightened the day at The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday, joining patients and their families for a cheerful session of arts-and-crafts.
After receiving a bouquet from an 11-year-old, Melania joined the children at the craft table, smiling, ‘It’s a celebration day.’
She added: ‘I’m glad to be here. It’s my fourth time here.’
Melania encouraged them to speak freely, saying, ‘Don’t be shy,’ and one young admirer couldn’t resist trying a little smooth talk with her.
‘I don’t play chess but I know a queen when I see one,’ said Marlon, the brother of a patient.
The first lady smiled and called him a ‘charmer,’ telling all the girls to ‘watch out’ for the Romeo.
She also bonded with Marlon’s brother, Donovan, as he is being treated for acute myeloid leukemia.
First Lady Melania Trump laughs as she jokes with Marlon to ‘smile for the camera’
Melania Trump beaming during a pre-Valentine’s day visit to the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda
Trump makes a Valentine’s Day card and other festive crafts as she visits with children
The pair chatted about their interests like sports and dancing.
When FLOTUS asked if he liked to dance, he joked about having ‘two left feet,’ and she said she loves to dance but rarely has time.
The first lady also discussed her personal work, like helping foster children and running the president’s AI challenge.
The AI topic turned heads, but she quickly cautioned the children to use the technology carefully.
‘It’s very positive but you have to be vigilant. You cannot believe everything,’ she explained.
She offered advice as the kids endure on their treatment for their rare illnesses, and explained her self care routine.
‘Take care of yourself. Exercise. That is critical,’ she said.
After making flower bouquets and lanterns out of construction paper, they gathered at a decorated dessert bar.
The table was laid out with mini cupcakes and jars of mini chocolates and other pink-and-red candies.
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The first lady standing with others at the dessert bar, where she admitted that she doesn’t eat many sweets
FLOTUS and the children made pink flower bouquets and festive lanterns out of construction paper
This was her first visit to The Children’s Inn since President Trump took office for the second time
Speaking freely, as she encouraged the kids to do, she admitted, ‘I don’t eat much sweets. Sugar isn’t very healthy for us.’
The Children’s Inn is a nonprofit in Bethesda, Maryland, that houses and supports children, teens, and young adults undergoing clinical trials for rare diseases.
This was her first visit to The Children’s Inn since President Trump took office for the second time.
It was her fourth overall visit as first lady; she visited three times during the first term.
Melania handed out bright gift bags to the children, smiling warmly as she wished them well.
‘Stay strong. I will think about you,’ she said.
