Melania Trump preaches to students about ‘respect, kindness, compassion and positivity’

Melania Trump said Sunday that kindness, compassion and positivity are important traits in life.

The first lady helped SADD – Students Against Destructive Decisions – open its annual national conference at a hotel just outside Washington. 

The event is her first public appearance since she wore a $39 statement Zara jacket with the slogan ‘I really don’t care, do u’ as she flew Thursday to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border.   

It also followed her announcement several weeks ago of a campaign called ‘Be Best’ that’s about adults helping children to be their best selves.

She said: ‘Show respect to each other. Treat your community like your family, and look out for one another.’ 

First lady Melania Trump speaks at the annual conference of SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions Sunday

First lady Melania Trump, left, is introduced by Dylan Mullins, right, from New Jersey and the SADD National Student of the year, before speaking to students at the annual conference

First lady Melania Trump, left, is introduced by Dylan Mullins, right, from New Jersey and the SADD National Student of the year, before speaking to students at the annual conference

Melania courted controversy Thursday when she wore the $39 statement Zara jacket with the slogan 'I really don't care, do u' as she flew Thursday to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border

Melania courted controversy Thursday when she wore the $39 statement Zara jacket with the slogan ‘I really don’t care, do u’ as she flew Thursday to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border

‘I feel very strongly that it is the job of adults to provide you with the tools you need to become the best you can be in all areas of life,’ she said, this time ditching her controversial Zara jacket for an $850 Calvin Klein pencil skirt.

‘That is why I am here today. I believe in SADD’s mission of empowering you to confront the risks and pressures you are challenged with every day,’ she told about 450 students and adults in attendance. 

‘Kindness, compassion and positivity are very important traits in life,’ she continued. ‘It is far easier to say nothing than it is to speak words of kindness. It is easier to judge quickly than to take time to understand. It is often easier to see a glass half empty rather than half full.’

‘Nevertheless, you have the power to be the positive force in so many people’s lives,’ added the first lady, who is the mother of a 12-year-old boy.  

SADD was founded in 1981 as Students Against Drunk Driving but changed its name and mission in the late 1990s to focus on prevention of all behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to middle, high school and college students, including substance abuse, traffic safety and bullying.

First lady Melania Trump waves as she walks off stage after speaking to students at the annual conference of SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions

First lady Melania Trump waves as she walks off stage after speaking to students at the annual conference of SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions

Mrs. Trump said she was inspired when she first heard about the organization and the conference.

Mrs. Trump said she was inspired when she first heard about the organization and the conference.

About 450 students and adults attended the event Sunday night, Trump's first appearance since wearing the controversial jacket 

About 450 students and adults attended the event Sunday night, Trump’s first appearance since wearing the controversial jacket 

Mrs. Trump said she was inspired when she first heard about the organization and the conference. The audience erupted into loud squeals and cheers when she was introduced by Dylan Mullins, of Marlboro, New Jersey, who is SADD’s National Student of the Year.

Mullins said the first lady’s campaign aims to highlight programs and organizations, like SADD, that seek to help young people overcome some of the issues they face every day.

Before she addressed the gathering, which concludes Wednesday, Mrs. Trump met with the organization’s leadership and helped make blankets the group is donating to shelters, said her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. As the audience awaited the appearance, they rocked out in their seats to music by Justin Bieber, Neil Diamond and Journey.

The first lady spoke several days after making an unannounced visit to the U.S.-Mexico border to see the effects on children of her husband’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against illegal immigration.  

Before arriving to the children’s shelter and after she left, Trump donned a green military-style Zara jacket with the words, ‘I really don’t care, do u’ scrawled on the back in white letters. 

She removed the jacket before entering the shelter – where 35 children are being housed without their parents – but the furor was already loud and clear. 

Trump, who put the jacket back on after leaving the shelter, did not address the controversy. President Trump tried to pacify the situation by tweeting that the jacket was aimed at ‘fake news media’.

‘I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO YOU?’ written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares’ he posted. 

A Republican close to the White House told CNN, communications staff had an emergency meeting about the jacket and that’s when the explanation that it was aimed at media was devised. 



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