President Donald Trump, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd in Des Moines, Iowa, on the eve of Independence Day, veered from policy to personal anecdotes while celebrating the passage of his major legislative package, which he proudly dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
In a rare moment of candor, Trump offered a glimpse into his private life, sharing a nickname he uses for First Lady Melania Trump.
“I remember saying to our great First Lady…” Trump began, before pausing and chuckling. “I call her ‘First Lady’—isn’t it terrible?”
“I say, ‘Good night, First Lady, my darling,’ because it reminds me that I’m president,” he continued, sparking laughter from the crowd, as reported by The Independent.
Trump Targets Democrats and Rivals
The Iowa rally, part of Trump’s “Salute to America” event series ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence next year, also saw the president resume his trademark attacks. He ridiculed Democrats for opposing his sweeping tax and spending legislation, mocked Iran, and lashed out at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
However, the night also drew criticism after Trump used the word “Shylocks”—widely recognized as an anti-Semitic slur—while talking about banks. The remark prompted backlash online and reignited debates about the president’s rhetoric.
Melania Trump Steps Back Into Public Eye
While First Lady Melania Trump has kept a relatively low profile since her husband returned to office in January, she has recently resumed some official duties. She attended the reopening ceremony at the Kennedy Center last month and made a surprise visit on Thursday to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
During her visit, Melania told patients,
“It’s a very special day. So we will have a big party at the White House. When you feel better, maybe next year, you come over and we’ll celebrate together,” as reported by The Daily Beast.
In a lighthearted moment, the First Lady bonded with the children over music, expressing admiration for pop stars Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Her comments stood in stark contrast to her husband’s earlier statement from last year, in which he declared he “hated” Swift after she endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the presidential election.
