This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
US First Lady Melania Trump faced a rare display of public discontent when she gave a speech on the dangers of drug addiction in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 26, 2019. The speech was part of the Baltimore Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness.
Boos and shrieking erupted from the audience of mostly middle and high school students when she walked on stage. Loud talking continued in the audience as she began her brief speech, in which she wished the children a healthy and drug-free life.
The audience's reaction was not entirely negative, with some students cheering at the end of her speech. However, the boos and jeers were a stark contrast to the usual warm reception given to first ladies in the United States.
The incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the Trump presidency. In July 2019, President Donald Trump sparked outrage with a series of tweets in which he described Baltimore as a 'disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess' unfit for humans.
By AFP
