First lady Melania Trump led Cabinet officials in a meeting Monday to learn about the various youth programs in their agencies that could partner with her Be Best campaign and its three pillars of wellness, online safety, and opioid abuse.
‘My focus is and always will be on our children – the next generation,’ Melania Trump said in her opening remarks.
‘They are our future doctors, nurses, firefighters, scientists, teachers, chefs, generals, pilots, designers, reporters, and missionaries just to name a few,’ she added.
Shortly before she joined various Cabinet secretaries and senior agency officials in the State Dining Room at the White House, President Donald Trump attacked former Vice President Joe Biden on Twitter.
Melania Trump led Cabinet officials in a meeting to learn about the various youth programs in their agencies that could partner with her Be Best campaign
Six Cabinet secretaries joined the first lady to talk about youth programs
Trump mocked Biden for his verbal flub over the weekend when the former vice president accidentally announced that he’s seeking the presidency.
‘Joe Biden got tongue tied over the weekend when he was unable to properly deliver a very simple line about his decision to run for President. Get used to it, another low I.Q. individual!’ the president tweeted.
Biden said Saturday in a speech to the Delaware Democratic Party that he has the ‘most progressive record of anyone running’ – an apparent reference to the 2020 presidential primary that brought cheers from his home state audience.
He immediately corrected himself, making clear that he meant to say ‘anybody who would run’ for the Democratic nomination.
After the president slammed Biden as a ‘low I.Q. individual’ – one of Trump’s favorite insults – the first lady joined six cabinet secretaries to hear about the work in their agencies that compliments her signature program, which, as part of its work, emphasizes kindness to others.
When Melania Trump announced her focus on cyber security – a pronouncement she made during the 2016 campaign – it led to questions about her husband’s twitter habit, where he often lobbies insults at his political rivals.
The Cabinet secretaries included: Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhard, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
Other agencies – including Justice Department, Labor Department, and State Department – were among the 10 executive departments represented.
All are part of the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, which was originally established under former President George W. Bush.
The first lady, wearing a Emilio Pucci pink suit, engaged with Cabinet members about their programs, learning what they offered and discussing how they tied in with her Be Best initiative.
Shortly before the first lady’s meeting, President Donald Trump (left) attacked former Vice President Joe Biden (right) on Twitter for a verbal flub over the weekend
President Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden on Monday morning for a verbal flub over the weekend that had him quieting a crowd after he accidentally announced that he’s seeking the presidency
She also talked about what she has seen and learned on her travels both in the United States and abroad.
‘In May we launched Be Best initiative and have had opportunity to work with many of you – traveling domestically and internationally – in order to promote three pillars of Be Best: well being, online safety, and opioid abuse,’ she said.
A few of the Cabinet officials then briefed the first lady.
DeVos talked about the Education Freedom Scholarships that allow students to choose the best educational setting for them, which may include career and technical education, apprenticeships, and dual and concurrent enrollment.
Melania Trump praised the scholarships and she hopes ‘we can achieve in every state’ such types of programs.
Carson noted his agency recently gave away its 1 million book to families living in assisted housing.
‘I became a doctor because of books,’ he said, praising the power of reading.
He also discussed the power of working together.
‘It’s said it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to achieve unity,’ he said.
The first lady thanked him for sharing.
The first lady led the group in a discussion of youth programs
Melania Trump tackles cyber bullying and emphasizes kindness as part of her Be Best campaign
‘Your story is very inspirational and should be an inspiration to all children out there,’ she said.
‘As I always said children need and deserve strong and loving families,’ she added.
FEMA Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor brought a Be Ready booklet that his agencies gives families to help children prepare for emergencies.
The first lady flipped through the packet as he spoke, describing the games children can play to help them learn.
Melania Trump asked the best age for children to learn emergency preparedness.
‘Eight grade,’ Gaynor told her.