World / Politics

Melania says Trump would 'make America fair'

10:24 am on 4 November 2016

Five days before America picks its next president, Melania Trump, has campaigned for her husband saying he would "make America fair".

Melania Trump speaks during a rally for her husband in Pennsylvania. Photo: AFP

In a rare speech the wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said if she became the first lady she would make anti-bullying efforts one of her priorities.

If Mr Trump wins the presidency, Melania, who spoke to supporters during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, will be the first foreign-born first lady in 187 years.

In her still-sharp Slovenian accent, she started by remarking it had been more than 500 days since her husband announced his candidacy.

"This is not an ordinary campaign. It is a movement. A movement in which people feel included inspired and involved.

"We must win on November 8th. And we must come together as Americans. We must treat each other with respect and kindness even when we disagree."

She said she would support her husband's efforts to support all Americans if he won the presidency.

"Donald Trump will make America fair. He will make America safe. He will make America prosperous. He will make America proud."

"Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially for children and teenagers," said Mrs Trump, about of childhood bullying and online trolling.

"We have to find a better way to talk to each other to disagree with each other, to respect each other."

She said it was unacceptable when children were mocked, bullied and attacked online anonymously.

To some, her remarks seemed at odds with her husband's long history of using Twitter to insult people.

She said it would be an honour and privilege to serve America and she would be an advocate for women and for children.

"I'm a full-time mother to our [10-year-old] son Barron, an incredible boy. I want my little boy to know that he is blessed to have been born in a country that values individual freedom."

She told the crowd her husband knew he could not sit by anymore and watch what was happening in America.

"What kind of country do we want? Do we want a country that is safe with secure borders? Yes? Do we want a country where everyone gets a fair shot?"

"Do we want a country that honours our constitution?"

"He loves this country and he knows how to get things done. He certainly knows how to shake things up, doesn't he? He knows how to make real change."

Mrs Trump told supporters she became a US citizen in 2006 after a 10-year process.

"It is the greatest privilege in the world. I'm an immigrant and let me tell you no one values the freedom and opportunity more than me, both as an independent woman and someone that emigrated to America."

She talked about how she grew up in a small town in Slovenia when it was under communist rule.

"Of course we always knew about the incredible place called America. America meant if you could dream it, you could become it."

She finished by promising her husband would "make America great again".

- BBC