[EXTERNAL] FLOTUS Pool Report #1

First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the women who are being awarded with the International Women of Courage Awards, arrived on stage a few minutes ahead of schedule at the State Department. They were greeted with a standing ovation.

The 19th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony is honoring eight women from around the world who, according to the State Department, “who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership – often at great personal risk and sacrifice.”

This year, the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award is also being given to the “Women Student Protest Leaders of Bangladesh.”

The State Department showed a video at the start of the event introducing the awardees.

This is the fifth time Mrs. Trump has attended the awards ceremony. She is wearing a leopard print trench coat for the occasion.

Additional information about the awardees and their accomplishments here: https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-states-2025-international-women-of-courage-award-recipients-announced/

The ceremony is being held in the Ben Franklin Room on the top floor of the Department of State. A reception was set up in an adjoining room with pink roses, a string quartet, and refreshments for after the event.

Among those spotted in the room:

Mrs. Jeanette Rubio

AG Pam Bondi

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

Education Secretary Linda McMahon

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez de remer

Rep. Elise Stefanik

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

From the East Wing:

“Mrs. Trump will highlight the profound connection between the love and courage shown by this year’s honorees. She looks forward to celebrating the extraordinary strength of women who embody love in action around the globe.”

— Nick Clemens, Communications Director for the First Lady

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Meridith McGraw

WHITE HOUSE REPORTER

http://www.wsj.com/

M: XXX-XXX-XXXX

E: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) T: @meridithmcgraw