Trump Hosts White House Ceremony Celebrating Women's History Month

The president and first lady honored the contributions of women throughout U.S. history.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:56pm

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a White House ceremony on Thursday to celebrate Women's History Month. The event featured remarks from the president and first lady, as well as several women who spoke about how the Trump administration's policies have benefited them. The ceremony was capped with the president signing a proclamation declaring March as Women's History Month.

Why it matters

The White House ceremony highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to recognize the important role women have played in shaping America's history and future. It also provided a platform for the president and first lady to showcase policies that have supported women, such as making in vitro fertilization more accessible and protecting women's sports.

The details

The event began with remarks from First Lady Melania Trump, who emphasized the crucial role women play in cultivating the values and character of the next generation. President Trump then took the stage, joking about the success of the documentary 'Melania' before thanking several women in his administration who were in attendance. The president highlighted the contributions of famous American women throughout history and said his administration aims to 'make America better, safer and more prosperous for women and men.' Several women, including a waitress and a U.S. Olympic bobsledder, spoke about how Trump administration policies have positively impacted their lives.

  • The White House ceremony took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who hosted the Women's History Month ceremony at the White House.

Melania Trump

The First Lady of the United States who gave opening remarks at the Women's History Month ceremony.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who was in attendance at the Women's History Month ceremony.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who was in attendance at the Women's History Month ceremony.

Heather

A waitress and mother of a 14-year-old who spoke about the tax benefits she received from the Trump administration's policies.

Kaillie Humphries

A U.S. Olympic bobsledder who has won three gold medals and three bronze medals, and who presented President Trump with her Olympic Order of Ikkos medal.

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What they’re saying

“The strength of America is closely tied to the role women play in shaping their children's character, education, and morals. The values cultivated within our communities shape the voice and vision of our next generation.”

— Melania Trump, First Lady

“Be courageous and take risks. Advance your profession through inspiration. Be a bold chief executive while keeping your family, if you choose, so at the center of your nation's future.”

— Melania Trump, First Lady

“From Martha Washington to Betsy Ross, from Clara Barton to Amelia Earhart, and Rosa Parks to Aretha Franklin, American women have propelled us to even greater heights.”

— Donald Trump, President

“A lot of the people I've seen come and go in the industry are single moms, and they work hard. They're the hardest-working people I know. Then at the end of the year, they're always super stressed out because they don't know where they're going to come up with the extra couple thousand dollars that they owe on the taxes.”

— Heather, Waitress and Mother

“And this year, I had to do a double-take. I had to do my taxes twice to make sure this was real. I couldn't believe it. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

— Heather, Waitress and Mother

What’s next

The White House has not announced any additional Women's History Month events or initiatives following the ceremony.

The takeaway

The White House ceremony highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to recognize the important contributions of women throughout American history and support policies that benefit women, such as tax relief for working mothers and increased access to in vitro fertilization. The event provided a platform for the president, first lady, and several women to share how the administration's initiatives have positively impacted their lives.