First Lady Melania Trump stood alongside President Donald Trump on Thursday for a rare joint signing ceremony, as the two formalized a new executive order aimed at helping teens aging out of the foster care system.
“Too many people from the foster care community end up homeless, in danger on America’s streets,” said the first lady during remarks before the signing. “I predict this small spark today will ignite a profound and lasting nationwide movement. Our united resolve will foster a thriving future filled with compassion and innovation.”
The executive order, signed by both the president and the first lady, expands on Melania Trump’s “Fostering the Future” program. It is a key part of her larger “Be Best” initiative, first launched during the previous Trump administration to promote children’s well-being, combat bullying, and fight youth drug addiction.
The order tasks the Department of Health and Human Services with improving data collection on child welfare, strengthening partnerships with private and faith-based organizations, and eliminating roadblocks that prevent those groups from participating in federal programs. The overall goal is to better support foster teens as they transition into adulthood.
President Trump praised the first lady for her leadership, noting her compassion and intellect. “I couldn’t do that,” he joked, referencing her fluency in five languages. “Thank you, Melania, and our country is truly blessed to have this magnificent and very caring First Lady.”
He also quoted scripture to emphasize the moral weight of the initiative. “The Bible tells us that one of the measures of any society is how it cares for vulnerable children and orphans. So important. And it’s so big in the Bible,” he said.
According to the Administration for Children and Families, the number of children in foster care dropped from 437,000 in 2017 to around 329,000 last year. But challenges persist. Just 55% of foster youth graduate from high school, and only 10% go on to complete college. Roughly 10% of the U.S. jail population passed through the foster system, highlighting the need for more robust support.
Melania Trump ceremonially added her signature to the executive order after the president’s, underscoring her personal commitment to the cause.
Anti-trafficking advocate Jaco Booyens called the move “an unshakable declaration that every child is seen, valued, and deserving of a God-given future.” He described the joint initiative as “not just policy; it is a prophetic assignment.”
The Trump administration says the new directive is designed to ensure no foster child is left behind as they enter adulthood — with the White House vowing to keep children, families, and faith at the center of its social policy.
The post Melania Trump Joins President in Signing Executive Order to Support Foster Youth appeared first on Real News Now.
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