Melania Trump Honors Women of Courage, Says Strength Comes from Love

 

Melania Trump emphasized the power of love as she honored eight women from around the world for their bravery, including an Israeli citizen who endured nearly two months in captivity after Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. Speaking at the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award ceremony, she stated, “These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world. Their journeys remind us that true courage is born from a deep commitment to others, showing that love fuels the call for justice.”

 

 

The event marked her first public appearance in Washington since March 4, when she attended President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress. It was also her fifth time speaking at this ceremony, a tradition she upheld throughout her husband’s first term. She described courage as “a strength that is based in love” and reflected on her own experiences, saying, “I have harnessed the power of love as a source of strength during challenging times. Love has inspired me to embrace forgiveness, nurture empathy, and exhibit bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles.”

Former hostage Amit Soussana has been awarded the 2025 International Women of Courage Award from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump.

In her remarks, Amit said: "My name is Amit Sosna, and I am a survivor. On October 7, 2023, my world changed… pic.twitter.com/9R0OlhMCzB

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) April 1, 2025

 

Among the honorees was Georgiana Pascu of Romania, who was praised for her advocacy on behalf of institutionalized children and adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. Trump described her as someone who demonstrates “love in action,” highlighting her work as a “watchdog” who fights for those who cannot speak for themselves. “Georgiana is a ‘watchdog’ who defends the dignity of Romanians whose voices cannot be heard,” she said. “Thanks to Georgiana’s brave work, dozens of offenders have been charged with human trafficking, exploitation, and even organized crime.”

 

 

Israeli lawyer Amit Soussana, another recipient, spoke of her harrowing experience as a Hamas hostage and made an urgent plea for the release of those still held captive. “My friends remain in the dark,” she said, referencing the more than 540 days since the attack. “Still suffering, still waiting, still hoping. Every single day that passes is another day of unimaginable suffering. With every passing moment, their pain deepens, their hope fades, and their chances of survival diminish. I call on the world to act, to bring them home now, not tomorrow, not next week. Now.”

 

Amit Soussana, former Israeli hostage who showed heroic courage during her abduction by Hamas, received US @StateDept International Women of Courage Award. Her recognition stands as a powerful symbol of strength and resilience.

Amit Soussana, former Israeli hostage who showed heroic courage during her abduction by Hamas, received US @StateDept International Women of Courage Award.

Her recognition stands as a powerful symbol of strength and resilience.

🎥@kann_news pic.twitter.com/xyIKjzueJN

— Israel in UN/Geneva🇮🇱🇺🇳 | #BringThemHome (@IsraelinGeneva) April 2, 2025

 

 

Other honorees included Henriette Da of Burkina Faso, a human rights advocate; Major Velena Iga of Papua New Guinea, an advocate against violence towards women and human trafficking; Angelique Songco of the Philippines, known as “Mama Ranger” for her work protecting Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit of South Sudan, a women’s rights leader; Namini Wijedasa of Sri Lanka, an investigative journalist; and Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj of Yemen, who brings international attention to the plight of abducted and forcibly detained Yemenis.

 

A special group award, named after the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, was presented to female student leaders in Bangladesh who protested against violent repression in July and August of 2024.

 

Now in its 19th year, the International Women of Courage Award recognizes women who have shown “exceptional courage, strength, and leadership, often at great personal risk and sacrifice.”

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-03

 

 

I don’t care what she says do you?

Quote

Melania Trump Says Strength Comes from Love

Nope, it comes from Gym

Flame removed 

You are lucky America you have a first lady with both beauty and brains, who speaks well even though English is not her first language.

I'd put more trust in Carmella Soprano. 

 

Melania Trump married a rapist, pedophile criminal for the money, and lacks even a thread of credibility. 

 

Plagiarizing Michelle Obama's speaches is about as authentic as she can aspire to. Best she stick with building tennis courts on the White House grounds, her greatest achievement during her husband's first term of office. 

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

You are lucky America you have a first lady with both beauty and brains, who speaks well even though English is not her first language.

How exactly is that "lucky" ? 

She’s married to a whore mongering misogynist who’s party are busily attacking the rights of women.

 

Her ‘Don’t care’ coat was her high tide mark.

 

 

All she brings is a look,no soul or contribution of any kind kinda an empty dress if you will.that in itself isent really a big deal but I remember when she had a snit about having the inconvenience of visiting the little kids trump seperated from their parents wearing that jacket (I don’t care do you) kids are innocent I don’t care how anyone feels about the asylum seekers hands off kids.thats inexcusable.

2 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

How exactly is that "lucky" ? 

Maybe lucky is the wrong word. Fortunate may be better.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

She’s married to a whore mongering misogynist who’s party are busily attacking the rights of women.

 

Her ‘Don’t care’ coat was her high tide mark.

 

 

Oh listen to Mr prim & proper, never joked or uttered I misogynistic remark about women in his entire 80yrs alive.

what womens rights would that be? Leaving abortion up to individual states.

3 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Oh listen to Mr prim & proper, never joked or uttered I misogynistic remark about women in his entire 80yrs alive.

what womens rights would that be? Leaving abortion up to individual states.

Talking to an imaginary Octogenarian now. Is this a progression I wonder?!

 

It doesn’t seem a turn for the better.

I’m sure she loves Donald very much. His wallet in particular.

She has shown strength and courage to put up with a cheating spouse. At least someone else has to change his diapers these days.

I'll give you a couple of American names:

Frances Kathleen Oldham Kelsey - stopped a major tragedy, when she refused to sign off Thalidomide for the FDA.

++

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks - a leading activist in the US civil rights movement.

 

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

Amit Soussana, former Israeli hostage who showed heroic courage during her abduction by Hamas, received US @StateDept International Women of Courage Award. Her recognition stands as a powerful symbol of strength and resilience.

 

 

This video was horrific. Amit Soussana was a very worthy recipient of a woman of courage against that gang of cowards kidnapping her. 

 

Unfortunately people here are too triggered by their hate of Melania and overlook what this event celebrated. Sad.

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

“I have harnessed the power of love as a source of strength during challenging times. Love has inspired me to embrace forgiveness, nurture empathy, and exhibit bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles.”

Probably couldn't be a truer statement with her husband! Challenging times and bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles, married to Trump to a tee 

5 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

This video was horrific. Amit Soussana was a very worthy recipient of a woman of courage against that gang of cowards kidnapping her. 

 

Unfortunately people here are too triggered by their hate of Melania and overlook what this event celebrated. Sad.

That's exactly the reason Melania Trump should NOT have hosted this event. A woman who has done nothing for anyone and lacks even a shred of empathy for anyone, see: children separated from their soon to be deported parents she refused to touch, distracts from these worthy recipients who have suffered greatly.

38 minutes ago, Cat Boy said:

That's exactly the reason Melania Trump should NOT have hosted this event. A woman who has done nothing for anyone and lacks even a shred of empathy for anyone, see: children separated from their soon to be deported parents she refused to touch, distracts from these worthy recipients who have suffered greatly.

She is the first lady, of course she should have done it. The first lady did it last year.  Had she not you would have moaned to. Back to the hate and ignorance of the event claiming she lacks a shred of empathy for others. 

Melania is a beautiful woman and another winner. I am so glad she is in the White House. MAGA

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Talking to an imaginary Octogenarian now. Is this a progression I wonder?!

 

It doesn’t seem a turn for the better.

Igor is so busy working for Putin the poor chap sometimes forgets which poster and topic he's replying to.

11 minutes ago, Screaming said:

Melania is a beautiful woman and another winner. I am so glad she is in the White House. MAGA

It looks like he's holding a trophy. She looks like she's thinking "I got him now!"

Former Hamas hostage Amit Soussana: "It really means a lot to me... @FLOTUS and @SecRubio were amazing. I felt like having me there really raised awareness to the hostage crisis."

 

 

4 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

I’m sure she loves Donald very much. His wallet in particular.

The irony of saying that on this forum😀😀, but at least he didn't pay a bar fine for her

Trump is honoring a woman's rights leader?

 

What?

 

 What a betrayal of my vote!!!!

7 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

I'd put more trust in Carmella Soprano. 

 

Melania Trump married a rapist, pedophile criminal for the money, and lacks even a thread of credibility. 

 

Plagiarizing Michelle Obama's speaches is about as authentic as she can aspire to. Best she stick with building tennis courts on the White House grounds, her greatest achievement during her husband's first term of office. 

Your opinion, fair enough. Many others do not agree with you.

2 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Your opinion, fair enough. Many others do not agree with you.

Hey, go steady with the ‘many’, you can only reliably speak for yourself and your handler.

 

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

The irony of saying that on this forum😀😀, but at least he didn't pay a bar fine for her

The irony of saying ‘at least he didn’t pay a bar fine for her’ goes way over your head, obviously. You want to guess how high maintenance Melania is and how much of Trump’s money she gets and/or spends on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis? I’m willing to bet that’s far more (like a million times more) than a measly bar fine.

1 hour ago, rudi49jr said:

The irony of saying ‘at least he didn’t pay a bar fine for her’ goes way over your head, obviously. You want to guess how high maintenance Melania is and how much of Trump’s money she gets and/or spends on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis? I’m willing to bet that’s far more (like a million times more) than a measly bar fine.

I know exactly what I wrote thanks, The fact she was an international model, i'd say she had a good chunk of her own cash, before hooking up with the orange don.

can I guess, no, I dont care what either of them do in the private lives.... seems, perhaps I touched a nerve. 

I guess she is a women of courage to be married to Trump...

Oh wait! She's being paid for that!