First Lady Pool Reports of July 3, 2025

FLOTUS pool #1: Arrive at Children's National Hospital

Good morning from Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC where First Lady Melania Trump has just arrived to visit with the hospital's young patients. I'll be your FLOTUS pooler this morning.

Mrs. Trump will participate in Fourth of July Arts and Crafts with Children's National Medical Center patients in the hospital's Garden Room.

She will also unveil a gift to the Bunny Mellon Healing Garden, a hybrid tea rose bush dubbed "Eternal Flame," decorate the garden, which she helped dedicate in 2017, and visit with the children.

More info on the garden per the hospital's website: "Named after late philanthropist and horticulturalist Rachel "Bunny" Lambert Mellon, our Healing Garden is dedicated to the First Ladies of the United States in honor of their longstanding support to Children's National and the Washington, D.C., community. This beautiful outdoor area gives families dealing with health challenges a peaceful space to connect with nature and renew their spirits."

Honorary chairs of the garden: Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Rosalynn Carter.

Outside the entrance to the garden, press viewed photos on the walls of first ladies visiting with child patients, including one of First Lady Melania Trump in 2017 smiling as she speaks with a child who appears to be a cancer patient, as well as former First Lady Jill Biden visiting with a toddler at Children's National in Christmas 2024.

More to come!

FLOTUS pool #2: Arts and crafts in Garden Room

Mrs. Trump joined ten children in "4th of July Arts and Crafts" in the Garden Room, decorating rocks and cups for the garden with patriotic decorations and paint.

She brought gifts of teddy bears for the kids, and is chatting with them about the Fourth of July. FLOTUS tells them about tomorrow's WH celebration and suggests maybe they can come next year when they are healthier. The kids indicated this would be fun!

Topics of conversation included favorite sports, foods, ice cream, hobbies, and more. FLOTUS colored a picture that says "BE BEST." Two children colored rocks for her and gave them to her as presents.

Aides brought in at least ten bags of big fluffy teddy bears and children's books and blankets. Multiple children clasped their bears tightly as they talked to the First Lady.

Press is watching from/holding in the "faith room," a room in the hospital designed for worship, adjoining the Garden Room.

Heading to the healing garden.

FLOTUS pool #3: Healing Garden

Mrs. Trump next joined the children in the healing garden, where she helped patients decorate the space with patriotic bows. She was joined by hospital President and CEO Michelle Riley-Brown.

"That's a lot of people," marveled one young child when she saw the press.

FLOTUS unveiled the "Eternal Flame," a classically shaped hybrid Tea Rose with yellow blooms, long stems, and a strong citrus fragrance. The bush is her gift to the garden this year.

FLOTUS walked about the garden with the kids and placed little Fourth of July propellers in the flower beds. A couple of the little children are carrying their teddy bears with them.

"I love to see you all," she tells the children.

Following her visit to the healing garden, Mrs. Trump will make private visits with heart and kidney patients and their families. Press is moving back to the vans to hold.

Of note - one child told Mrs. Trump as they colored that she likes to golf. Mrs Trump shared that she no longer plays.

As FLOTUS left the press, two reporters shouted questions: what does it mean to you to be an American, and was your husband working the phones last night. She didn't respond to either.

FLOTUS pool #4: Transplant patient visit

Press held in the vans as Mrs. Trump walked through the heart and kidney unit at Children's National. She met with at least one 3-month-old patient and the baby's family.

Also present: Dr. Wayne Franklin, senior vice president of the Heart Center at Children's National, and Mary Anne Hilliard, chief operating officer and a former nurse here at Children's National.

We're rolling in the motorcade to WH as of 12:18 pm ET.

FLOTUS pool #5: Arrive at White House

FLOTUS motorcade arrived back at the White House at 12:30. We're told she'll be joining POTUS in the Oval Office around 1pm to meet with Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American who survived 584 days in Hamas captivity.

That's all from me today, in town pool will take it from here. Have a great Fourth!