First Lady Pool Reports of December 5, 2025

FLOTUS Pool Report No. 1 - Children's National arrival

Good morning from the Costco Wholesale Atrium at Children's National Hospital in N.W. Washington, D.C., I'll be your print pooler for today's event with first lady Melania Trump.

A festive backdrop has been set up in a curtained-off area of the atrium, complete with one large Christmas tree flanked by two smaller ones, presents, and poinsettias. 

When the pool arrived ahead of the first lady, the children's programming had already started. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are here.

FLOTUS arrived at 10:29 a.m. 

She is wearing a Nour Hammour eggplant suede trench coat with dark red snake pumps, according to the East Wing. She walked out with a little boy and girl and helped them get on their red chairs.

Participants in the event today include 

• 20 Children's National Hospital patients 
• Caoilinn McLane - a 24-year-old former patient who first met Mrs. Trump in 2017 as McLane battled Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Amy Baier, Children's National Medical Center Board Member (and wife to Fox News Channel's Bret Baier.) 
• Kathie Williams, Children's National Medical Center Board Member

FLOTUS is reading "How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney" by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. 

Reading is ongoing … more TK.

FLOTUS Pool Report No. 2 - more details

The East Wing passes along the children who arrived with FLOTUS: 
Riley Whitney, 11-year-old male patient
Faith Hinkle, 5-year-old female patient

FLOTUS read the story and then made brief remarks. 

She told the children that she hoped Santa "bring[s] you a lot of toys." 

"So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I wish you a lot of strength and love. My husband, the president, is sending love and best wishes as well. Thank you for having me here."

She then made sure Faith was able to tell Santa Claus what she wanted for Christmas and conversed briefly with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The first lady then went around and talked to some of the other young patients out of earshot of the pool.

Faith didn't want the first lady to go and hugged her at least twice before Melania departed at 10:41 a.m. She's now headed to meet patients in their rooms, which is closed press.

Here's the Otter of her remarks and part of Caoilinn McLane's introduction. 

https://otter.ai/u/3ombAWoz-ZLXUmR9wyCu94-Mrko?utm_source=copy_url

FLOTUS Pool Report No. 3 - gift exchange

Some final color from today's FLOTUS event, Santa Claus gave Mrs. Trump a gold coin that read "Believe" in cursive writing and "Merry Christmas." (Image attached. I'll tweet if it doesn't come through.)

In turn, FLOTUS brought gifts for hospital patients, including her trademark "Be Best" ornaments. 

Thanks all!