US First Lady Melania Trump in a heartfelt plea for racial harmony called for an end to the violence and looting. She was addressing the nation through a live speech at Republican National Convention from White House.
“Stop the violence and looting,” she said as fresh protests erupt in the country over a police shooting in Wisconsin. She appealed the masses to stop making assumptions based on race and to think critically about the history of the nation. Her husband, President Donald Trump currently trails behind his Democratic challenger and former VP under Obama administration, Joe Biden, according to the results of opinion polls for November’s election. Trump is due to address the convention’s closing night on Thursday.
Trump’s partner who normally avoids limelight, took center stage at the Republican convention as she officially launched the campaign for her husband’s re-election. The first lady in his keynote address from Rose Garden of the WH on Tuesday made a case for her husband’s next four years at office.
“Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country. It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. I encourage you to focus on the future while still learning from the past,” she said.
She urged the audiences: “I urge people to come together in a civil manner so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals. I just ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice, and never make assumptions based on the color of a person’s skin.”
The convention kicked off with a prayer for Jacob Blake, the 29-year old black man who was shot multiple times in the back by Wisconsin police earlier on Sunday. Following the fatal shooting of the African American, a new wave of demonstrations kicked in and Trump had no option but to tweet a call for the Wisconsin’s governor to deploy the National Guard to stop the unrest in the aftermath of incident.
The First Lady also expressed her concern about the safety and wellbeing of Americans under the shadows of COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know many people are anxious,” she said. “Some feel helpless. I want you to know you are not alone.”
Delivering her keynote address, Melania was also all praise for her partner as a someone who “makes no secrets abut how he feels about things”.
“Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president. Whether you like it or not you always know what he is thinking.”
She then showered her praise for American working families and called them “the backbone of this country”. No matter the amount of negative or false media headlines or attacks from the other side, Donald Trump has not and will not lose focus on you,” Melania added.
“He loves this country and he knows how to get things done. As you have learned over the last five years, he is not a traditional politician.”
Her decision to speak from the Rose Garden has prompted criticism from the Democrats who say the chosen venue is misuse of the highest public office in the country. Over the weekend, Melania unveiled the overhauling of the Rose Garden including a relocation of about a dozen crabapple trees planted by Jackie Kennedy as Frist Lady. On social media some wrongly speculated about the cutting of the rose bushes and trees while bashing Mrs. Trump – Slovenian born – as a foreigner. Trump administration however, claims the 3-week project was funded by private donors and did not revealed the cost of the renovation project.
