In which city and court was Melania Trump’s naturalization ceremony held?
Executive summary
Melania Trump’s naturalization ceremony remarks were delivered at a U.S. naturalization event held in the rotunda of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. Multiple outlets report the ceremony took place at the National Archives Rotunda and that 25 people from 25 nations were sworn in during the event [1] [2] [3].
1. Where the ceremony happened — a short factual account
The ceremony at which Melania Trump spoke took place in the National Archives Rotunda, at the National Archives headquarters in Washington, D.C., during a Bill of Rights Day naturalization event where 25 people from 25 countries took the oath of citizenship [1] [2] [3].
2. Which court or judge was involved — why reporting mentions a judge
Although the event was hosted at the National Archives, reporting notes that it was a judicial naturalization: a federal judge presided over the oath. The coverage names U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Gunn as the judge who swore in the new citizens at the ceremony [4] [5]. News outlets emphasize the distinction between routine administrative ceremonies and judicial ceremonies because different rules and officials govern them [4].
3. Why the location mattered — context from contemporaneous controversies
The choice of the National Archives Rotunda drew extra attention because the agency had been central to an investigation into classified documents connected to Melania’s husband, former President Donald Trump. Several reporters and editors flagged the symbolic overlap: the Archives is the institutional steward of founding documents and the site of recent scrutiny in the Trump documents matter, so having Melania Trump appear there invited political and media scrutiny [4] [5].
4. How outlets described Melania’s role — guest speaker, not a political invitee
The National Archives and multiple outlets said Melania was invited as a former first lady and as a naturalized citizen, not in a political capacity; the Archives told reporters the event was nonpartisan and that speakers at such ceremonies are not political appointees for campaign purposes [3] [4]. Some reporting nevertheless framed the invitation as politically resonant given her prominence and her husband’s legal and political profile [4].
5. What Melania said — themes emphasized in reporting
Coverage focused on Melania recounting her own path to citizenship and urging new citizens to value their responsibilities and freedoms. Outlets quoted her describing the immigration process as “arduous” and saying citizenship brought a “sense of pride,” and noted she highlighted the “certainty” reaching citizenship gave her [2] [6] [7].
6. Competing viewpoints in the coverage — nonpartisan claim vs. political optics
News organizations relayed two competing frames: the Archives’ claim that inviting Melania was appropriate and nonpolitical because she is the nation’s only naturalized first lady [3], and skeptical takes that the appearance had political optics—especially because the Archives had previously asked the Justice Department to investigate former President Trump’s handling of records [4] [5]. Politico and other outlets explored how the invitation could be read as useful to broader political messaging despite archival officials’ insistence of nonpartisanship [4].
7. Limitations of available reporting
Available sources consistently identify location (National Archives Rotunda, Washington, D.C.) and note Judge Elizabeth Gunn presided [1] [2] [4] [5]. Sources do not provide a verbatim transcript of the oath itself beyond general descriptions, nor do they include internal Archives deliberations about the invitation beyond public statements; available reporting does not mention any other court name beyond the presiding judge at the ceremony [4] [5].
8. Bottom line for readers
The event took place at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, D.C., and was a judicial naturalization ceremony in which U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Gunn administered the oath to 25 new citizens; Melania Trump spoke as a former first lady and naturalized American [1] [2] [4] [5]. Reporting presents that straightforward fact while also noting debate over whether the appearance had unavoidable political implications given the Archives’ recent public role in an investigation involving her husband [4] [5].