Trump praises Melania as ‘our wonderful first lady’ as he thanks her for organizing White House picnic

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump endearingly called Melania "our wonderful first lady" as he thanked her for organizing the White House picnic on Thursday, June 12.

The POTUS graced the Congressional Picnic, where he met various US Congress members. Melania, who donned a white blouse paired with floral trousers, stood silently by her spouse, according to the Irish Star.

Donald Trump calls Melania 'our wonderful first lady'

During his address from a White House balcony, Donald Trump expressed gratitude to Melania for organizing the picnic and added that she might take over his role one day.

Meanwhile, he referred to her as "our wonderful first lady" and shared a fleeting moment of affection.

Trump also took a dig at Senator Rand Paul by suggesting he "snuck" into Thursday night’s congressional picnic despite having been invited after a war of words with the White House, according to the Daily Beast.

Paul has vocally opposed the GOP’s budget and the $45 million military parade for the Army’s 250th anniversary on Saturday, the same day as Trump’s birthday, per the outlet.

Trump said, "We have so many of our congressmen, and we have some senators in here, I have to tell you. They snuck in, but that’s okay. They wanted to be here."

Notably, the gathering marked the second occasion this week where Trump made a public appearance.

President Trump and Melania were met with jeers on Wednesday, June 11, when they arrived at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts for the premiere of 'Les Miserables', per the outlet.

Several cast members were considering skipping out on the performance as a sign of protest against the president, The Mirror reported.

The POTUS had stirred up tension with those in the arts community when he pushed for significant changes earlier in 2025 after controversially being elected chairman, per the outlet.

This was reportedly Trump's first visit to the national cultural center since his reelection and the changes that followed.

Body language expert highlights Melania Trump’s transformation during Donald Trump’s second term

Melania Trump has largely maintained a low public profile during Donald Trump's second run as the POTUS. However, when she does appear alongside her husband, a noticeable shift in their relationship dynamic can be seen.

Body language expert Judi Jones gave her insight into what the joint appearances reveal. She believes that the couple now presents a more balanced partnership, both personally and politically, compared to the President's first term in office, Irish Star reported.

Jones noticed a transformation in the dynamic between Donald Trump and Melania his second term. The body language expert said that their interactions have grown noticeably more physical, emotionally intense, and even intimate, far more than in the past, per the outlet.

"There has been a seismic change in Donald and Melania's body language for this current term in the White House. In terms of time spent together, there seems to be a 'less is more' tendency that has given fuel to the speculation that their lives have gone down separate professional paths," Jones said.

She further pointed to the first lady's current White House portrait, prominently displayed in the East Wing, as a symbol of her evolving role.

Moreover, Melania is depicted as a figure of authority, standing at the head of a conference table in sharp, CEO-style attire instead of adopting the traditional, supportive stance of a first lady.

Jones added, "Melania's official portrait for the White House seemed to set the tone for her enhanced profile. She chose to adopt a pose more suited to a powerful CEO than a traditional, supportive FLOTUS, standing at the head of a board table with a distinctly power-dressed styling."