The first lady is breaking a 100-year tradition.
Melania Trump Just Gave Her Farewell Address Amid Backlash for Snubbing Jill Biden
After four years, Melania Trump has given her last address as first lady of the United States.
In the six-minute recorded speech, Melania promoted “love over hatred,” a somewhat befuddling message to come from the administration that peddled lies about the 2020 election results, encouraged insurrection, and refused to attend the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. “Be passionate in everything you do,” she said. “But always remember that violence is never the answer and will never be justified.”
You can watch the entire speech, below.
https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1351258353704579074It’s important to remember that Donald Trump’s wife is hardly a passive part of his legacy. All the way back in 2011, Melania actively peddled her husband’s racist birtherism conspiracy that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. And, of course, we all remember the “I Really Don’t Care” jacket scandal of 2018.
As recently as today, January 18, Melania Trump is facing backlash yet again for snubbing incoming first lady Jill Biden. For the first time in 100 years, the First Lady did not invite the incoming president’s spouse to visit the White House, despite the fact that Michelle Obama welcomed her four years ago.
“That’s not very ‘Be Best,’ is it?” one Twitter user wrote.
https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1351217235805745159“Michelle Obama graciously hosted Melania Trump at the White House immediately after 2016 election to ensure a smooth transition,” historian Michael Beschloss tweeted. “Melania Trump has done absolutely nothing for Dr. Jill Biden. Some people are givers, others takers.”
https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/1351252883799498754https://twitter.com/VictoriaAveyard/status/1351278108825980928In an Instagram post from November 16, Michelle Obama reflected on her family’s experience welcoming the Trumps into the White House, admitting that pushing forward with this presidential tradition “wasn’t easy”—you know, because of the racist conspiracy theories I mentioned earlier.
“I have to be honest and say that none of this was easy for me. Donald Trump had spread racist lies about my husband that had put my family in danger. That wasn’t something I was ready to forgive,” she wrote. “But I knew that, for the sake of our country, I had to find the strength and maturity to put my anger aside.”
In her final speech Melania said serving as first lady was the “greatest honor” of her life, adding, “I am humbled to have had the opportunity to represent a nation with such kind and generous people.”
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Emily Tannenbaum
