
Melania Trump made a surprise visit to Children’s National Hospital for a patriotic arts session in honor of July 4th.
The first lady joked about her husband’s love of golf when kids asked if she shared President Donald Trump’s love of the sport.
‘No, I don’t play golf,’ she laughed, but disclosed that she used to play.
Nine former and current patients of the hospital in Washington, D.C. sat with Trump for an art session, decorating rocks to put in the Children’s Health Garden and coloring on note pads branded with the first lady’s signature ‘Be Best’ initiative.
She even invited the group to come to the White House for the 250th Independence Day celebration next year on July 4, 2026 and told them about the upcoming celebration including the fireworks show and F14 flyovers.
The visit comes as her citizenship is under scrutiny after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Penn.) questioned if former model turned First Lady truly qualified for the ‘Einstein visa’ that garnered her entry into the United States.

Melania Trump visited with nine kids at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 3, 2025

The first lady gifted the kids with blankets and teddy bears bearing ‘Be Best’ t-shirts

After the art session, the first lady with kids in tow came out to decorate the hospital’s garden with their projects

Melania Trump brought teddy bears to give the children
Melania Trump moved to New York in 1996 on the EB-1 visa – known as the Einstein visa, reserved for workers who have extraordinary skills in their chosen field. The first lady, who was born in Slovenia, was working as a model when she met Donald Trump. The two married and she became a citizen in 2006.
An online petition is circulating calling for her deportation as her husband’s administration cracks down on migrants who entered the United States illegally.
On Thursday, the first lady’s focus was on the Fourth of July holiday.
‘Welcome First Lady Melania Trump,’ read a sign made by the young artists.
The first lady told the kids: ‘You look beautiful.’
She brought goodie bags with blankets, children’s books and teddy bears with ‘Best Best’ t-shirts.
The kids went outside after their crafts session with Trump to use their art to decorate the Healing Garden at the hospital.
She also unveiled a new flower – the ‘External Flame’ hybrid tea rose, which is a highly fragrant yellow rose.
Following her visit to the healing garden, Trump made private visits with heart and kidney transplant patients. The first lady has made children’s wellbeing a priority through her Be Best program.
Trump visited the hospital every year around Christmas during her first tenure as first lady. It is a longtime tradition for the spouse of a president to visit the children’s care center around the holidays.

Trump shows off a painted rock with hearts donning smiley faces as she joined kids at Children’s National Hospital for an art project in celebration of Independence Day

Melania Trump and the children visited the Children’s Healing garden – the garden was donated by Bunny Mellon and is in honor of all the nation’s first ladies

The first lady helped the children decorate the garden for the Fourth of July

First ladies going back to Bess Truman have been patrons of the Children’s National Hospital. Pictured: First lady Melania Trump at Children’s National Hospital in December 2019
After the hospital visit, she will join President Trump in the Oval Office to meet with freed Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and his family. Alexander was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days in Gaza and was released in May as a ‘good will gesture,’ by the terrorist group.
On Friday, the first lady and the president will host a military picnic on the South Lawn and view the fireworks that evening.
First ladies going back to Bess Truman have been patrons of the Children’s National Hospital, which is one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country.