It was a heartwarming yet controversial moment at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, where Melania Trump carried on the cherished tradition of First Ladies visiting young patients. Although the event was intended to bring joy, Melania found herself at the center of social media criticism. Many pointed out her apparent lack of expression and critiqued her English-speaking skills.
This beloved tradition traces back to Bess Truman, the First Lady from 1945 to 1953, who began visiting children in hospitals during the holiday season. The aim has always been to brighten the spirits of these young ones going through challenging times.
Melania Trump continued this practice on December 5th by visiting the Children’s National Hospital, bringing smiles and festive cheer to the children. She was warmly welcomed by two spirited patients, Faith and Riley, who added an extra dose of holiday magic with their joyful presence.
The hospital’s website expressed the significance of this visit, stating it remains one of their most cherished traditions, offering support and encouragement to patients, their families, and staff during the festive season.
Criticism over Melania Trump’s Story Reading Skills
As Melania settled into a large red chair in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, she read “How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney” by Mac Barnett to an eager group of children. However, her reading soon became a topic of online debate.
First Lady Melania Trump reads a Christmas book to young kids at the Children’s National Hospital pic.twitter.com/VcxcaFCRXQ
Critics pointed to her accent and seemed to take issue with her reading skills since her first language is Slovenian. During the reading, she had moments where she appeared to struggle with pronunciation, which instantly attracted comments from social media users.
The criticism was amplified by the Trump administration’s strict stance on immigration, sparking discussions about language and communication.
One user remarked on social media, “She can’t even read properly, or speak English clearly! There’s no engagement with the children she’s reading to… Completely devoid of any emotion. The kids deserve better…”
Another expressed, “So… Melania Trump struggles with reading out loud. What were you thinking, MAGA?”
A third voice noted the irony of criticism given the administration’s anti-immigrant policies, saying, “From the most anti-immigrant administration ever. The irony is f—— insane,” while another jested, “If she was on the street talking, she might be stopped by immigration.”
First Lady Melania Trump reads a Christmas book to young kids at the Children's National Hospital
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 5, 2025
pic.twitter.com/VcxcaFCRXQ
Yet another joked, “Poor kids. They’ll never think of ‘Creeestmas’ the same again.”
Spreading Joy with Gifts and Well-Wishes
Despite the backlash, Melania concluded her visit on a positive note, offering words of strength to the children and distributing toys as part of the visit. “I’m sure Santa will visit all of you this Christmas and bring you a lot of toys, so I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. I wish you a lot of strength and love,” she said warmly, ensuring that Donalda Trump also extended his love and best wishes to the children.
Visits like these highlight the warmth of the season, and for many, it stands as a beautiful tradition, full of hope and kindness. We wish the kids and their families joy and laughter this Christmas.
What’s your perspective on the commotion surrounding Melania’s reading session? Feel free to express your thoughts on our social media platform’s comment section.
