-- 9:30 a.m. wednesday. >> the smithsonian national history has aral new addition, first lady melania trump's inaugural gown. she presented the dress. this is 15 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, please theome director of smithsonian national museum of american history. [applause] >> the 13th secretary of the dr.hsonian institution, ton.d score 1to

and, the first lady a of the united states, mrs. melania trump. [applause] >> good morning and welcome. i have the privilege to be your director of your museum of american history. we are pleased to welcome first. it is a thrill to have you with us. the secretary of the

smithsonian, and the designer of chair,ss, to our board many members of the border with us and to all of our distinguished guests, we welcome you and thank you for your support. americans in so many other visitors from every corner of the world walk through the each year hillary's experiencing not only the importance, grandeur, and elegance of the first 80 -- of to first lady, but also witness how transitions of power are executed peacefully. exhibitions like the one we have of mrs. trumps gown requires skill and expertise of our extraordinary staff. creating a transformative

experience only history can offer. we thank all of the stuff of for on this. just behind us lies the hallowed star-spangled banner, preserved for future generations. to my right is the iconic statue of george washington offering his sword. these two national treasures remind us of our responsibility to the strongest and most vibrant democracy. later this morning, mrs. trumps inaugural gown, our newest national treasure will be installed in the first lady's exhibition, another symbol of the enduring power of our democracy. mrs. trump, it is a tremendous honor to have you join with the smithsonian in a tradition that years.ck more than 100

the presentation of the first lady's inaugural gown to the smithsonian national collection. and we thank you. >> we're working to bring the nation together around those us as a people. grateful towe are you for trusting us with this magnificent gown. we assure you it will be cared for with the same attention as all of our national treasures. in just a few hours, the gallery

reopens to the public. the nation and the world will share this moment forever. tois now my pleasure secretary of the smithsonian, who embodies so many fundamental american ideas. a first-generation american, cardiologist, flautist, champion of arts and humanities, and an advocate for the most important issues of our time. [applause] >> thank you, john. thank you everyone for joining us. mrs. trump, thank you for donating this and being part of the smithsonian. distinguished guests, welcome to

the national museum of american history on the national mall of the united states. this museum has been collecting gowns for the first ladies collection for more than a century. it is, and remains, one of the most popular exhibitions. on behalf of the smithsonian, i want to thank you for your generosity in allowing us to add to this collection. and again, my thanks and admiration to you, mr. pierre, for the design of this beautiful gown. since its opening in 1964, this museum has embodied the smithsonian's dedication to american history. we told the story through actions and people, both famous and obscure. we inspire students through educational programs that reach them in our museums, their homes, and classrooms across the nation. object and artifacts help put that history into sharp focus.

this gown is the height of fashion, something that pleases us aesthetically with its beauty, craftsmanship, and elegance. the aesthetics that drive artistic endeavor also captivate us. it is a uniquely human response. designer prada said fashion is instant language. these gowns tell us much about the accomplished women who wore them. each first lady left an indelible mark on the white house and this nation. now mrs. trump's inaugural gown will take its rightful place among the collection that includes martha washington's peak hand-painted silk gown, michelle obama's white gown, and many others. because this is an inaugural

gown, like many others in the first ladies collection, it also helps underscore our values as a nation. this gown is emblematic of the peaceful transition of power that is the hallmark of this democracy. it reminds us that our ideals still resonate over 200 years later. that for all of our flaws this nation is founded on a government by the people, for the people, and will endure. thanks to the administration, congress, and everyone here at the national museum of american history for helping us in our mission to educate and inspire. it is my honor to ask you to join me in welcoming the first lady of the united states, melania trump. [applause]

mrs. trump: thank you, so much. it is an honor to be here today. i want to start by thinking director gray and the secretary for the wonderful introduction. the staff and the smithsonian has been a true pleasure to work with. thank you for everything that you do to preserve part of our nation's history. as historians and curators, you have such an important role on behalf of our country. while i may be the one on stage, i want to take a moment to introduce you to the person behind my gorgeous couture piece.

the designer, mr. pierre, thank you. please, stand up. [applause] mrs. trump: thank you, for all you did to create such a wonderful piece. you are a true artist and a real professional. as most of you know, before being elected president my husband was never in politics. you can imagine after he won, we were very busy with all that goes into preparing for a new administration and all of the changes that we, as a family, would be facing. to be honest, what i would wear to the inaugural ball was the last thing on my mind. [laughter] trump: by the time i got around to thinking about my choice, he was only given two weeks to design this piece. we had never worked together before, but i knew of his stellar reputation and wanted to work with someone who would do

more than just design a dress. i wanted someone who would be willing to collaborate with me. he exceeded my expectations. i have had a passion for design from a young age and had a very precise idea of what i wanted for such a historic evening. when sitting down to discuss my vision, i expressed a desire for modern, sleek lines and an unexpected look. i will tell you that it can be a daunting task to choose an outfit that will become part of our nation's story and history. i was so pleased with our end result. it is now my hope that this

piece is one of the many great to our family's history here in washington, d.c. the president and i love living here and we are so honored to represent this country. the smithsonian has the unique honor to freeze time. the story of our nation's history. i am so honored and grateful to become part of this history, and thank you all for being here with me today. god bless you, and god bless the united states of america. thank you. [applause] [applause]

[applause]

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