First lady was Melania Trump booed as she took the stage at a youth event on Tuesday, but her response celebrated democracy.
The event, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland, and hosted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, was held in an effort to raise awareness about the rising opioid crisis affecting the United States.
The booing only lasted for about a minute, according to CNN reporter Kate Bennett, although loud conversations ensued throughout the first lady’s speech.
Nevertheless, Trump continued on with her speech, ignoring the backlash she was receiving.
“Thank you to all of the students who are here. I am so proud of you for the bravery it takes to share that you have been strongly affected by the opioid epidemic in some way,” she said. “Promoting education and awareness on these issues will always be one of my top priorities. I am in this fight with you and I am fighting for you.”
As she exited the stage, the first lady was booed once again with some cheers mixed in, according to The Guardian.
This incident marks the first time Melania Trump has been booed at while attending an event on her own, according to CNN.
Melania Trump sent a statement to CNN about the incident: “We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is we have a serious crisis in our country and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse.”
Melania Trump’s husband, President Donald Trump, has had a strained relationship with the city of Baltimore, which he called a “rat and rodent infested mess” in a July tweet.
Her husband has been booed in the past, though. He experienced it both at a World Series game in Washington and an event in New York City in October, according to The New York Times. That said, Trump continues to draw massive crowds to his rallies and campaign events. In some cases, it ends up causing traffic problems across the city.