Melania Trump visits children's hospital in rare public appearance
The first lady met with patients at the Children's National Hospital in Washington DC, as the children made arts and crafts ahead of American Independence Day on July 4.
Mrs Trump, continuing a tradition of support by first ladies for the paediatric care centre, helped the children to decorate rocks and cups.
She brought gifts of teddy bears for the children and chatted with them about July 4, telling them that they should come and celebrate at the White House next year, 'when they are healthier'.
Two children coloured rocks for her and gave them to her as presents.
Later, Mrs Trump headed to the healing garden, where she helped patients decorate the space with patriotic bows. She was joined by Michelle Riley-Brown, the hospital president and chief executive.
The Bunny Mellon Healing Garden was named to honour Rachel 'Bunny' Mellon, a friend of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Mrs Mellon was a philanthropist and avid gardener who designed the Rose Garden and other White House gardens during the Kennedy administration.
Mrs Trump 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 healing garden this year.
'I love to see you all,' she told the children.
The healing garden was dedicated to America's first ladies because of their decades-long support for the hospital and its patients, including a traditional first lady visit at Christmastime that dates back to Bess Truman.
Mrs Trump, along with Dale Haney, the chief White House groundskeeper, is set to inspect the planting of a new yellow rose bush donated by the White House and planted earlier in the week at the hospital garden.
Mrs Trump has been notably absent from Washington during Donald Trump's second term, spending fewer than 14 days at the residence since he took office 108 days ago, according to a report in the New York Times earlier this year.
The 55-year-old instead spends much of her time in Trump Tower in Manhattan or in Florida, out of the prying eyes of the public in Mar-a-Lago.
'We haven't seen such a low-profile first lady since Bess Truman,' Katherine Jellison, a historian of first ladies said.
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