Melania Trump to spend Valentine’s Day with children undergoing clinical treatments

WASHINGTON, DC: First lady Melania Trump is set to spend Valentine’s Day with young patients participating in clinical trials at the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Wednesday, February 11.

The visit continues a tradition she began during President Donald Trump’s first term, when she marked the holiday at the Children’s Inn in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Melania Trump’s spokesman weighs in on her visit to Children’s Inn

According to the first lady’s office, Melania Trump will join children with “rare and serious diseases” to make valentines and take part in arts and crafts activities on February 11.

“Seeing how creativity, happiness, and imagination can be nurtured with the support of caregivers and families, especially during important clinical trials, is a beautiful experience,” first lady spokesman Nick Clemens told Breitbart News.

He added, "Being with those children and their families, including those who traveled from across the country and beyond, is just one reason why this visit is both meaningful and memorable, and it reflects the First Lady’s ongoing focus through Be Best to advance children’s well-being."

NIH Director Dr Jay Bhattacharya, Children’s Inn CEO Jennie Lucca, Board Vice Chair Scott Royal and patients’ families are also expected to attend the celebration.

The Children’s Inn at NIH describes itself as a “place like home” for families of children, teens and young adults taking part in advanced research studies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

While the NIH Clinical Center provides medical care, the Inn says it supports families emotionally and spiritually during their stay.

Melania Trump made similar Valentine’s Day visits to Children’s Inn during Trump’s first term

The first lady made similar holiday visits to the NIH facility during Trump’s first term. She visited The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, where she spent time with families and children taking part in clinical trials.

During her first visit in 2018, she decorated cookies and treats with the children. The following year in 2019, she returned to make jewelry with patients.

The White House also provided personalized Easter baskets to children staying at the Inn as part of another holiday celebration.

In May 2019, Melania Trump invited several Children’s Inn families to the White House through her “Be Best” initiative

In 2020, for the third year in a row, Melania spent Valentine’s Day with young patients at The Children’s Inn. She later wrote on X that the visit had become “a treasured tradition” for her, adding, “It was a wonderful day to share love and kindness with these strong warriors.”

During the visit, a child named Thais gave her a bouquet of roses, while another child, Amana, presented her with a picture frame filled with cutout hearts. Melania thanked them with hugs and promised to display the gifts in her office.

“It was fun meeting the first lady,” 11-year-old Lucy said afterward. “Not many people get to meet her. We talked about decorating cookies and the White House, like how many rooms there are.”

Beyond holiday events, The Children’s Inn serves a larger mission. It supports children facing serious or terminal illnesses by giving them access to experimental treatments and advanced medical research.