President Donald Trump joked during a White House meeting on Monday that First Lady Melania Trump probably loves their son Barron "more than anybody including me". The candid admission came during serious diplomatic discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the ongoing war.
The comment emerged as Trump explained his wife's strong feelings about the Ukraine conflict, which prompted her to write a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "She has got a great love of children," Trump said, referring to Melania's humanitarian concerns about Ukrainian children affected by the war.
"She has a wonderful son that she loves probably more than anybody including me. I hate to say that but she loves her son, she loves children, she hates to see something like this happening," the President said.
First Lady's humanitarian appeal
Melania Trump's letter to Putin was published on social media after Trump's Friday meeting with the Russian leader. The First Lady pleaded for peace for the sake of Ukrainian children, writing: "Mr Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter."
Trump said his wife asked him to convey a message ahead of the Monday meeting with Zelensky and European leaders. "She would love to see it end. She says it very openly and very proudly and with great sorrow because so many people have been killed," he added.
According to the Express, body language experts noted Trump displayed "internal reflection and careful thoughtfulness" when discussing his wife's letter during the diplomatic encounter.
Focus on Ukrainian children
Zelensky responded by thanking Melania Trump for her correspondence and emphasising the importance of returning Ukrainian children taken by Russia. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen echoed these concerns during the meeting.
"As a mother and grandmother, every single child has to go back to its family. This should be one of our main priorities, to make sure that the children come back to Ukraine, to their families," Von Der Leyen said.
Zelensky also delivered a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska to Melania Trump during Monday's meeting, creating a reciprocal diplomatic exchange between the two women.
Ongoing diplomatic efforts
Trump revealed that Melania continues to bring Putin's attacks on Ukrainian civilians to his attention, even as he works on peace negotiations. The President described his conversations with Putin as "always very pleasant" but acknowledged the ongoing missile strikes.
The Independent reports that Barron Trump, now 19, has rarely been seen with his father in recent months despite appearances during the 2024 campaign.
Sources used: "Express", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
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