Melania Trump talks immigrant status, gender equality at White House luncheon
First lady Melania Trump opened up about her immigrant status on Wednesday, explaining how it fueled her interest in gender equality.
The wife of President Trump left her current residence in New York on Wednesday to host a White House luncheon in celebration of International Women's Day -- where she spoke during a speech of her past in growing up under communist rule in Slovenia.
"As an immigrant myself, having grown up in a communist society, I know all too well the value and importance of freedom and equal opportunity," Melania Trump said. "Ideals which this great nation was founded and has continued to strive towards throughout its history."
RELATED: Melania Trump hosts International Women's Day luncheon
The luncheon crowd included senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, and wife of Vice President Mike Pence, Karen Pence.
The first lady continued her remarks, commenting on "gender persecution" that exists on a global scale -- something Melania Trump says "we must face together."
"There remains far more brutal and terrifying incarnations of actual gender persecution which we must face together, such as forced enslavement, sexual abuse and absolute repression of far too many women and girls around the globe," Melania Trump said. "We must remember these women in our daily prayers and use our combined resources to help free them from such unthinkable and inhumane circumstances."
SEE ALSO: Poll: First lady Melania Trump's favorability ratings rise
First ladies throughout history have generally taken up a specific issue area as a main part of their White House platform. For former first lady Michelle Obama, it was fitness for kids -- a cause she mobilized around using her "Let's Move" campaign and White House garden as a way to educate and encourage children to eat and live better throughout the nation. Wife of George W. Bush, Laura Bush, primarily focused on education.
Where some have speculated that Melania Trump is growing into a role where she will focus on children's issues, that notion was strengthened when the former model placed a premium on the power of education.
"I continue to firmly believe that education is the most powerful way to promote and ensure women's rights. Together we will do this not only by striving for gender parity at all levels of education, but also by showing all children, and especially boys, that it is through empathy, respect and kindness that we achieve our collective potential," she said.
RELATED: First Family: Meet Melania Trump
Melania Trump has faced past scrutiny over her path to becoming an American citizen. Immigration expert Hasan Shafiqullah recently told Slate that if Melania did work in the U.S. without having the needed legal permission and "If the current executive order on interior enforcement and the related Homeland Security memoranda on interior enforcement had been in effect at that time, then she would have...been an enforcement priority."
This, paired with reports that the first lady is "miserable" in her White House role, forced President Trump to speak on the matter during a February press conference, saying she "gets so unfairly treated."
