‘I heard you missed me’: Melania jokes with Rose Garden guests after public absence

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Good afternoon. I heard you missed me. Here I am. Welcome to the White House. A warm welcome to our distinguished guests today, Mr President, my father, Mr Knauss, cabinet members, Mr Penske, Mr Bowles, Mr Shanks, the talented drivers, our universities and the remarkable individuals who stand in support of my fostering the future initiative. The greatest achievement investment America can make is not in technology, infrastructure or capital markets. It's our Children. We are at the beginning of an era defined by artificial intelligence, robotics and industries that have yet to be imagined. But America's greatest competitive advantage remains in its own people. Tomorrow's leaders are sitting in classrooms today, including those growing up in foster care. Their capability is no less remarkable. Fostering the future elevates America's youth based on merit and talent, lifting them beyond economic circumstance and every other condition that may limit opportunity. Our mission is simple yet transformational. Provide every young person from the foster care community the chance to earn a college education, launch a meaningful career and achieve lasting financial independence. Today, Indiana University and Purdue University joined fostering the future's growing coast to coast alliance of leading academic institutions. Congratulations and thank you. Together they expand a national network of 26 universities that prepare our foster youth to shape America's growth. I'm very proud to share the death that this last spring fostering the future scholarship supported the education of our first doctor. He will change the lives of so many people tomorrow. Thanks to visionary partners such as IndyCar and Fox, fostering the future graduates will build new companies, launch new industries and redefine what is possible for all Americans. Fostering the future is more than an educational initiative. It is generational investment in America's talent pipeline. Every student who graduates strengthen our workforce, accelerates innovation, expands economic opportunity and reduces long term dependence on government assistance. The return of this investment is measured not only in life's change for the better, but in stronger communities, a more competitive nation and a future powered by American ingenuity. Education is the one asset that can never be taken away. It is the foundation upon which confidence is built, opportunities created and the future is invented. And finally, look at this incredible race car, gorgeous and powerful. I'm sure we cannot wait to see it start its engine. Good luck to all of the drivers and teams on Sunday's race. And now it is my pleasure to introduce a true champion, the chairman of Penske Entertainment and owner of IndyCar, Mr Roger Penske. Welcome, everyone. What an honor to be here today to represent many of you in the companies you represent to support the First Lady's program, fostering the future. When you think about what the First Lady is committed to in her leadership, her commitment and also to drive education amongst our younger generation. But you send a powerful message about our country that we are committed to education and fostering the next generation. Our company and Fox have the same core values, and that's giving back. We're so excited today to be part of launching this commitment to fostering the future. Thinking about the young people that are here today, they're gonna be the benefactors, have an education, build a career, and I might say many of them might be the leaders of our country and our business. When I think about the future and I think about what we have today, we will have this weekend 250 mile Freedom Grand Prix, and it will cap off 250 years anniversary of our country. And with a powerful message that the First Lady has given us, millions of people around the world will see this history being made. And what about the thousands of people who will come here on their own to see the event be part of that? As we go forward, we're very excited. I can tell you, Mr President and Madam First Lady, we're very excited to be part of this. Your commitment, the country's commitment for youth and education is certainly our rising star. Thank you very much. At this point, I'd like to introduce Doug Bowles, who is the president of the Internet Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Doug. Well, good afternoon, Mr President. First Lady, thank you so much for hosting us here in this beautiful Rose Garden. It's really an honor to be here to be with you, especially to talk about fostering the future. Thank you, Roger. You know, it's an honor here. It's an honor to be here representing IndyCar. It's America's original racing series. In fact, our first national points paying race was in June of 1905 here on the East Coast in Bronx, New York. So this is America's sport. And to be able to race the Freedom 250 in our nation's capital is outstanding. But Roger, you've championed our sport for so long, not just IndyCar racing, but the sport in general. But what you have brought to IndyCar since you've come is unbelievable. And we would not be here today getting ready to race in our nation's capital around Washington, D. C. Around the National Mall without your passion. You know, if we today had to write, write the history of motorsport, you could not do it without a volume specifically about Roger Penske, starting with your passion, your commitment, your leadership and certainly your success. Thank you so much for all you've done for our sport. As Roger mentioned, IndyCar is honored to stand here with the first lady to take part in fostering the future alongside our friends at Fox. Like most, I had only a small understanding of fostering. In fact, it was only the basics like food, shelter and stability. Those were the things that I thought about when I thought about fostering Children. What I've learned along the way and understanding what fostering the future does. There are so many challenges that our foster foster kids face, especially at 18 when they become emancipated and are left without the infrastructure or the resources to immediately move into adulthood. In fact, I met one earlier today, Jaden Martinez, who's the son of Texas, who's one of those young men who we know out here. Thank you, Jaden, for being here and being a voice for fostering the future. Fostering the future like an IndyCar pit crew provides tools, support and resources along the entire path of foster care and especially when foster Children age out of the foster care system. Funding higher level education is one of the biggest challenges. And as the first lady said, education and investing in our youth is so important. This partnership with fostering the future will open doors for our youth and honor two great educational institutions in our home state, Indiana University and Purdue University by providing scholarships to allow these young adults to continue their education at these world class institutions. You know, IndyCars is a sport that requires talent and leadership to succeed and education at Indiana University and Purdue University through the scholarships from fostering the future like this will help harvest those qualities in the next generation in just a few short days with the unyielding support of our president. Thank you, Mr Trump. IndyCar will blaze an unprecedented path on the streets of our nation's capital. The stars of the fastest racing on earth will reach speeds in excess of 180 miles an hour as they make their way past the U.S. Capitol building, the Washington Monument and around the National Mall. They'll put on a massive and very fast spectacle to celebrate our country's 250th birthday. But before they strap in the cockpit and before they put those visors down, we have a few of them here today and they've come bearing a special gift for the first lady. I'd like to welcome those drivers right now and if they could come up and join us by the left front of this beautiful IndyCar. Six-time IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner and the second winningest driver in the history of IndyCar racing, ladies and gentlemen, Scott Dixon. Next, an eight-time IndyCar Series winner and the winner of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, the 26th of the 2016 race, whose wife just became an American citizen this past May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ladies and gentlemen, Alexander Rossi. Second-generation American driver and IndyCar Series race winner, Graham Rahal. And finally, seven-time IndyCar Series race winner, Scott McLaughlin. And an important note about Scott McLaughlin, in April of 2025, this New Zealander became an American citizen. Scotty and Scott, if the first lady to come up, you have something special for the drivers to present to the first lady. And once again, on behalf of the IndyCar Series, Mr. President, First Lady, thank you so much for all your support in our event this weekend and for hosting us here today. And with that, it's time to hear from the other half of this awesome partnership supporting, fostering the future. He's Hoosier-born and he's one of the most talented leaders in sports and broadcast. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a welcome to Fox Sports president and executive producer, Eric Shanks. All right, so this is the finish line. Thank you, Doug, and good afternoon, everybody. It's a great time to be in the Rose Garden this afternoon. It's an opportunity and community to be here in Louisiana and an IU alum, thank you, Pam, where we are. Now today, that commitment takes on an entire corporation and we are extremely excited to partner with First Lady Melania Trump. Thank you both Roger Pinsky and Doug Bowles. Together we aren't just creating pathways for these incredible students, we are also making history this weekend. Fox Sports presents a landmark event this weekend with the Freedom 250 IndyCar Grand Prix right here in Washington DC, racing through the nation's capital to celebrate our 250th birthday. This is going to be a celebration of our great country unlike any other. So President Trump and First Lady, thank you for allowing us to have a race in your backyard. It takes incredible partners to pull off an event of this scale while lifting up our next generation at the same time. Thank you all for being a part of this milestone moment. We're going to present the checks to both Indiana and Purdue and following the check presentation, that's going to conclude our event for today. Thank you for coming.