Featured Image Credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Ukraine, Politics
Kit Roberts
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Ukraine, Politics
Donald Trump has delivered a blunt message to people who prefer to listen to his wife Melania rather than him.
The US president had been addressing a signing of an executive order on foster care at the White House on November 13.
Things started off with Melania addressing the room, highlighting her own work to support children as they become too old to continue remaining in the foster care system.
The Fostering the Future bill will set up an online hub to give foster children access to educational and career opportunities, and there will also be vouchers and grants to support them too.
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She said: "This executive order, Fostering the Future for American children and families, gives me tremendous pride. It is both empathetic and strategic. It will certainly be impactful.
"It aims to establish a comprehensive network connecting federal departments and agencies, private sector businesses, higher learning institutions and charitable organizations."
Taking to the podium for his own speech at the event, Trump paid tribute to his wife, commending her for being able to speak 'five languages at least', and adding: "I think that's pretty amazing. I can't - I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it."
The president appeared to note that he had not received quite so warm a reception as his wife.
He continued to pay tribute to Melania in his speech, saying: "Our country is truly blessed to have this magnificent and very caring first lady. They love her."
He then joked that audiences often seemed to prefer listening to Melania than him.
"Every time I get up and make a speech, they say we want our First Lady," he said. "I say what the hell, I'm not good enough?"
After concluding his own speech Trump then sat down to sign the executive order, also asking Melania to sign it as well in an unusual move for a first lady.
According to the White House Melania had lobbied the $25 million investment as part of the budget, with the money intended to subsidize housing and help children to move out of the foster system as they grow up.
Children's welfare has been high on the first lady's agenda since her return to the White House.
Melania has publicly criticized Russian president Vladimir Putin for abducting Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion
Since then, she says she's opened a dialogue with Putin and eight Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families.