FLOTUS pool report #1 - FLOTUS arrival at luncheon
- From
- Emily Goodin
- Sent
- April 23, 2026 at 12:41 PM EDT
First Lady Melania Trump entered the annual First Lady’s luncheon at 12:37 pm.
Second Lady Usha Vance is also here, walking in just before the First Lady. She introduced Mrs. Trump as a woman of accomplishments and her friend.
Vance: “Serving as first lady for two terms is no small feat, but ours does with an inspiring grace.”
Mrs. Trump is wearing an ivory double breasted jacket from Dior with a black Dolce pencil skirt.
The head table consists of Supreme Court spouses (note Mr. Jesse Barrett is the only male at the table) and Cabinet spouses along with Chairman Robin Allen (who is from Georgia) and President of the Congressional Club Leah Dunn.
Chef Paula Deen is in the audience.
It is the 113th First Ladies lunch and this year it’s celebrating 1776. It’s hosted by the Congressional Club Museum and Foundation.
The theme is Georgia on My Mind. The gift bag is a Masters tournament bag that contains a commemorative plate featuring the American flag, a gold-colored bracelet with an American flag charm, an America 250 book, notecards, a Diet Coke with a America 250 label, an apron, and a white pashmina.
The luncheon is taking place in the main ballroom of the Hilton Hotel - yes the same ballroom the WHCA dinner will be held on Saturday night.
The menu is salad, shrimp, grits and peach cobbler.
Senate spouses, cabinet spouses, SCOTUS spouses, business leaders and donors make up the audience along with guests of the members of the Congressional Club. Around 2,000 guests are in the audience.
The First Lady will be given a painting as a gift - it’s dedicated to America 250 and is a collage of images consisting of the Capitol, the American flag, White House, cherry blossoms and the Lincoln Memorial. Usha Vance will be given a baby blanket.
NOTES: Press has never been allowed in this luncheon until today.
Zac Brown is performing but after the pool leaves.
And the portions of the luncheon when the pool is present is airing on C-SPAN: https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/first-lady-melania-trump-holds-annual-first-ladys-luncheon/442427
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Emily Goodin
White House Correspondent
New York Post
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