WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump praised families of U.S. service members for making “extraordinary sacrifices” for the country during a White House East Room ceremony on Thursday meant to honor military moms ahead of Mother’s Day.
The president was joined by his wife, Melania Trump, for the event in what marked a thus far rare public appearance at the White House for the first lady in her husband's second term.
“As military moms, you make these sacrifices in your family so that all of our families can be safe and be free,” the president said. “Our country is strong and respected because you choose to live the life of service.”
The first lady, who gave brief remarks after the president, described motherhood as a “life changing event that makes women invincible and exposed at the same time.”
She went on to urge mothers to “prioritize your wellbeing” and “nurture yourself” during what she referred to as a “pivotal moment” in the country.
“By caring for ourselves, we empower the next generation to thrive,” the first lady added. “Together, let's build a legacy of resilience and hope.”
The president also used the event to thank members of the U.S. military more broadly and those, such as nurses, who support them – adding he has a “special little feeling” for the Space Force. He pointed out that crew members of Air Force One were in the room, who he noted are “said to be the best pilots in the world.”
“You better be the best because I'm traveling with you,” Trump quipped.
Trump, as he often does, went on to laud military recruitment numbers since his election in November, asserting that enlistment for every branch of the Armed Forces has “surged to the highest levels in 48 years.”
Data from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command shows recruitment of both regular army and army reserve members increased in 2024 from the year prior, during former President Joe Biden’s time in the White House. The data shows, however, that last year’s numbers were still below what they were in fiscal year 2020, when Trump was still in office. Numbers on this year thus far have not been released by the recruiting command.
It comes as the Trump administration released a budget proposal for the next fiscal year last week that asked Congress for a 13% increase in defense spending. Some of the increase outlined in the proposal, however, would come through congressional Republicans’ efforts to pass Trump’s agenda on the border, taxes and energy in a process known as reconciliation, rather than through the usual budget process.
Such a suggestion has been met with some pushback from the right, including from the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who warned that relying on the reconciliation process to lift defense spending results in a “cut in real terms” and could “shred to the bone our military capabilities.”
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to reports, is also ordering a 20% cut of four-star general officers in the active duty military
At Thursday’s event, which took place just days before Mother’s Day, Trump also praised his own mother, calling her an “angel,” despite being “tough.” He gave a nod to Second Lady Usha Vance, who has three children with Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Hegseth’s wife, who were all in attendance.
He called the first lady “one of the best moms” he has “ever seen.”
“Sometimes she's almost too good, she is so good with Barron,” Trump said, referring to the first couple’s son.
The first lady has publically taken part in just a handful of events related to her husband’s duties as president, which has included traveling with him to attend Pope Francis’ funeral and hosting the White House Easter Egg Roll, both taking place last month. She is set to host a ceremony to release a new U.S. postage stamp for former first lady Barbara Bush at the White House Thursday afternoon.
