Melania Trump Makes Rare Public Appearance at National Archives to Welcome New U.S. Citizens

Melania Trump made a rare public appearance on Friday, serving as a special guest at a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens held in the rotunda of the National Archives’ headquarters.

The appearance is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. For one, the former first lady has rarely ventured out in public since her husband, former President Donald Trump, left office in January 2021 (her first official sighting in a while came last month, when she attended Rosalynn Carter's memorial service alongside the other living first ladies).

But it's also noteworthy in that the ceremony is hosted by the National Archives, the agency that asked the Justice Department to investigate her husband’s handling of White House records after he left office. As a result of that long-running investigation, the former president became the first commander-in-chief to face federal charges.

Prosecutors have alleged the former president stored top-secret documents in bathrooms and closets at his private Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump has claimed on social media that any documents in his possession had been declassified — though, according to the indictment, prosecutors reviewed recordings of Trump bragging about how he possessed classified records and allegedly admitting that he didn't declassify them.

It's unusual to see a government agency — let alone one that has tension with President Trump — host a candidate's wife for a photo op exactly one month before the Iowa caucus.

The National Archives asserts that it did not invite Melania to attend Friday's naturalization ceremony in a political capacity, but to attend as the nation's only naturalized first lady, which makes her a relevant guest for the occasion.

“This is a nonpartisan event, just as the National Archives is a nonpartisan entity," an Archives spokesperson told Politico in a statement. "Mrs. Trump will be speaking in her capacity as a former first lady and a prominent naturalized American citizen. The National Archives is a resource for all Americans, and inviting the only first lady who is herself a naturalized citizen to speak to others taking their oaths to our nation sends a strong message to all Americans that the National Archives is here for all."

According to a release, the ceremony was held as part of the Archives' annual celebration of Bill of Rights Day, and saw 25 people from 25 nations sworn in as new U.S. citizens in front of the Constitution and the country's other founding documents.

U.S. Archivist Dr. Colleen Shogan, who assumed office earlier this year under President Joe Biden, also provided remarks at the event.

A source told PEOPLE earlier this year that Melania — who has been noticeably absent from the 2024 campaign trail, and her husband's court appearances — has been eager to keep her head down and continue leading "her own life."

“Melania publicly supports her husband but privately prefers a life with 100 percent privacy and no press scrutiny,” the source told PEOPLE.

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The former president is facing a total of 91 criminal counts between four investigations, some of which have potential to land him in prison if convicted. Violating the Georgia RICO Act, classified as a “serious felony,” carries a minimum sentence of five years.