During a live interview at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, First Lady Melania Trump spoke about a personal passion that shaped her youth. She said her father, while they lived in Slovenia, introduced her to automobile racing and owned a collection of notable vehicles, including a Maserati, Cougar, Mustang and Mercedes. “When I was growing up, my father introduced me to races and to race cars, and I loved every minute of it,” she told Fox News.
Trump also used the platform to discuss the White House’s “Fostering the Future” initiative, a program aimed at improving education, housing and career outcomes for young adults transitioning out of foster care. She noted that the initiative now partners with 26 universities across the United States, citing institutions such as the University of Texas, the University of North Carolina, Dominican University in New York and Pepperdine University. “They need to have the same opportunities as other children, and I’m very proud to say that we had the first doctor graduating and we now have 26 universities all around the country that have foster students,” she said.
Call for statewide support
Melania Trump urged governors in every state to endorse the program, encouraging them to sign on and support foster‑care children. She highlighted a recent $2 million donation from IndyCar and Fox Corporation, which will fund scholarships at Indiana University and Purdue University, expanding the network of participating schools.
The interview marked the first public appearance of the first lady in 32 days, following her attendance at the 2026 World Cup final on July 19. Her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, previously told USA TODAY that she had been “working behind the scenes” on the initiative.
Background on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, held in Washington, D.C., is part of the IndyCar series and draws a national audience. While the event is primarily a sporting competition, it also serves as a venue for public figures to address broader social issues, as demonstrated by the first lady’s remarks.
Melania Trump’s comments blend a personal anecdote about her childhood love of racing with a policy‑focused appeal for foster‑care support. The initiative’s expansion reflects a continued emphasis from the current administration on addressing the needs of vulnerable youth through education and scholarship opportunities.
Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
