WATCH: Melania Trump Receives Standing Ovation As She Joins President For Pro-Foster-Care Signing

First Lady Melania Trump stole the show at the White House on Thursday, receiving a massive standing ovation as she joined President Donald Trump for the signing of a landmark executive order aimed at transforming the nation’s foster care system. The event, held in the East Room, marked one of the most enthusiastic public receptions she has received since returning to her role, underscoring how popular she remains with supporters.

The order, titled Fostering the Future for American Children and Families, focuses on expanding educational support, housing stability, workforce access, and long-term opportunities for children in foster care and young adults aging out of the system. Melania Trump, whose Be Best initiative has long emphasized child welfare and mentorship, played a central role in shaping the direction of the new effort.

“A special thank you to my husband to his enduring commitment to Fostering the Future. The president has prioritized America’s foster children,” Melania said Thursday.

“For today’s foster children to become tomorrow’s builders. And tomorrow’s builders will foster the future of America’s legacy. Thank you. Pleasure to introduce my husband, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” she added. The crowd rose to its feet again as she introduced the President.

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President Trump opened his remarks by praising his wife’s message and her ability to command the room. He said, “It’s very good, especially for someone that speaks five languages at least. I think that’s pretty amazing. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it. Well, thank you, Melania, and our country is…” before shifting into a full explanation of the administration’s foster care agenda.

The executive order directs federal agencies to expand access to education and training vouchers, workforce credential programs, and financial literacy resources geared toward foster youth. It also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a comprehensive online hub linking current and former foster children to programs, mentors, scholarships, and career planning tools.

One of the key components of the order is a newly structured public private partnership model. This framework brings together businesses, universities, nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations to build long-term pipelines of opportunity. Internship programs, scholarship networks, housing resources, and career pathways will be coordinated across sectors to give foster youth a stable foundation beyond the age of eighteen.

The order also encourages states to expand scholarship opportunities funded through tax credited donations. The goal is to give young adults emerging from foster care a realistic shot at higher education without being overwhelmed by financial barriers.

The President repeatedly credited Melania Trump for inspiring major parts of the order. Her presence and the overwhelming response she received reaffirmed her continued influence on issues involving children, families, and national well-being.