During Tuesday afternoon’s International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony at the State Department, Melania Trump highlighted love as a “universal language” that transcends boundaries.

First Lady Melania Trump hosted the International Women of Courage Award Ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the State Department, joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who served as the guest speaker and formally introduced her to the audience.

Opening the ceremony, Melania Trump shared a personal message about the significance of love in her life: “Throughout my life, I have harnessed the power of love as a source of strength during challenging times. Love has inspired me to embrace forgiveness, nurture, and exhibit bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles. Today, we celebrate courage—a strength that is rooted in love. This truth is illustrated through our honorees, who have proven that love can inspire extraordinary valor.”

The elegant First Lady then went on to admire brave women who “showed their love and refused to let fear or hardship define them.”

Among those honored was Georgiana Pascu of Romania, recognized for her dedicated advocacy on behalf of institutionalized children and adults living with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. Her tireless work in defending human rights earned her one of the event’s distinguished awards.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also affirmed the importance of protecting women and girls and promoting their well-being as American goals.”

Melania’s full speech at the 19th annual International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony
“They also happen to be a strong goal of our president, President Donald Trump,” Rubio said.

Although the first lady doesn’t often appear in public, her presence at the International Women of Courage Awards is familiar. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed earlier on Tuesday that this marks the fifth time she has taken part in the ceremony.