Melania goes solo: First Lady returns to the spotlight after 25-day absence in a stunning $2,700 gown at the Ford's Theatre gala as her husband flies to Singapore

  • The First Lady attended an annual gala at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC Sunday night
  • Melania was Honorary Chair for the gala in tribute to former President Abraham Lincoln and gave remarks
  • This is one of her first appearances since her 25-day hiatus from the public spotlight following kidney surgery
  • Last year she and the president attended the gala together, but he is in Singapore to meet with Kim Jong-un  

By Kayla Brantley For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:15 EDT, 11 June 2018 | Updated: 08:14 EDT, 11 June 2018

First Lady Melania Trump stepped out solo Sunday night to attend an annual gala in Washington DC as her husband landed in Singapore ahead of the highly-anticipated meeting with Kim Jong-un.

Melania, who wore a black $2,700 Escada gown, was Honorary Chair for the annual gala paying tribute to former President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. She delivered remarks on stage at the end of the program.

This appearance is one of Melania's first since being away from the public eye for 25 days while she recovered from kidney surgery.

She made her first public appearance last week at a Gold Star event. 

The First Lady attended an annual gala at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC Sunday night. She is pictured delivering remarks at the end of the night

The First Lady attended an annual gala at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC Sunday night. She is pictured delivering remarks at the end of the night

 Melania was Honorary Chair for Sunday night's the gala in tribute to former President Abraham Lincoln 

 Melania was Honorary Chair for Sunday night's the gala in tribute to former President Abraham Lincoln 

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First Lady Melania Trump made a highly anticipated appearance at this years gala at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C.

Back in action after taking a medical break last month, Melania looked sophisticated and glamorous as she made a speech and welcomed performers to the annual event.

She opted for an Escada strapless gown that has a metallic halter neck and a chic bicolor bust with a striking black column skirt.

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This is one of her first appearances since her 25-day hiatus from the public spotlight following kidney surgery. She is pictured at the reception with Sheila Johnson, recipient of the Lincoln Medal

This is one of her first appearances since her 25-day hiatus from the public spotlight following kidney surgery. She is pictured at the reception with Sheila Johnson, recipient of the Lincoln Medal

Melania made her second public appearance since her kidney surgery Wednesday afternoon when she joined the president at a briefing on hurricane preparedness at FEMA.

The First Lady delivered remarks at the end of Sunday night's program, thanking Ford's Theatre and the performers for a wonderful evening.

She also congratulated the recipients of this year's Lincoln Medal – an annual award given to people who have exemplified the legacy of President Lincoln through their achievements and bodies of work. 

One of this year's recipients is businesswoman Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. 

'I was honored to be part of such a special evening,' said First Lady Melania Trump. 

'Tonight reminds all of us about the power the arts have in cultivating the American voice. Thank you to Ford's Theatre Society for tonight, and your continued dedication to education and leadership in the arts—the impact they have on society is invaluable and something we will continue to cherish throughout time.'  

Friday, President Donald Trump revealed his wife underwent a four-hour operation and she is prohibited from flying for a month. 

'Can't fly for one month, the doctors say,' he said.

'She wanted to go,' Trump said. 'She had a big operation, that was close to a four-hour operation. And she's doing great,' Trump said.

He added that the First Lady is 'doing great.'  

The President and First Lady are pictured at last year's gala together, but he is in Singapore to meet with Kim Jong-un this year

The President and First Lady are pictured at last year's gala together, but he is in Singapore to meet with Kim Jong-un this year

Melania made her second public appearance since her kidney surgery Wednesday afternoon when she joined the president at a briefing on hurricane preparedness at FEMA

Melania made her second public appearance since her kidney surgery Wednesday afternoon when she joined the president at a briefing on hurricane preparedness at FEMA

Melania Trump at the Gold Star event at White House last week in her first public appearance in 25 days 

Melania Trump at the Gold Star event at White House last week in her first public appearance in 25 days 

That assessment Trump gave of Melania's condition appeared more serious than what the White House had previously said - that she had undergone a 'procedure'.

The procedure, an embolization, commonly takes up to three hours, suggesting that the one performed on the First Lady was more complicated than the average.

She was also unable to fly with her husband to Canada for the G7 summit this weekend. 

After trying to smooth over tensions with the six other leaders at the summit in Canada, Trump spoke optimistically about his looming meeting and said he believed it would go well.

'I will be on a mission of peace and will carry in my heart the hearts of millions of people, all over the world,' he said. 

The president arrived in Singapore Sunday evening and met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Trump and his delegation had working lunch with Singapore's Prime Minister and officials at the Istana ahead of the June 12 meeting with the North Korean leader. 

President Donald Trump and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands during a meeting at the Istana in Singapore June 11, 2018.

President Donald Trump and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands during a meeting at the Istana in Singapore June 11, 2018.

Trump and his delegation have lunch with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and officials at the Istana in Singapore

Trump and his delegation have lunch with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and officials at the Istana in Singapore

The First Lady delivered remarks at the end of the Sunday night's performances thanking Ford's Theatre and the performers for a wonderful evening

The First Lady delivered remarks at the end of the Sunday night's performances thanking Ford's Theatre and the performers for a wonderful evening

WHY CAN'T MELANIA FLY? SURGEON EXPLAINS AVOIDING TRAVEL FOR MONTHS IS 'EXTREME' BUT 'NOT A BAD IDEA'

President Donald Trump has announced that Melania Trump cannot fly for 30 days.

The First Lady had a kidney embolization on May 14, a simple procedure done to intentionally block off a blood vessel in the kidney.

More than a month later, President Trump says his wife will be skipping the officials trips to Canada and Singapore, because she needs to 'recover'.

Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health who is an expert on kidney surgeries and procedures, told DailyMail.com patients are typically advised not to travel for around a month after their operation.

Any longer is more ‘extreme’ but ‘it’s not a bad idea’.

'As a surgeon, the biggest thing we worry about after a procedure is blood clots,' Dr Brahmbhatt told DailyMail.com.

'When it comes to travel, we tend to worry a lot about that. You run a higher risk of blood clots, and you get dehydrated which can increase your risk of issues, especially if you’re traveling far.

'It depends on the doctor at to how extreme they take it.

'If the patient has to travel, there are medications we can put them on like blood thinners.

'So, it's rare [to avoid travel two months after surgery] but if you have the option, it's not a bad idea.’

He added: 'As doctors, we also like patients to be close.' 

Embolizations are minor operations, with relatively low risks of complications or side effects.

In very rare cases, patients may have a bad reaction to the dye used in the procedure.

More commonly, some have discomfort or minor bleeding after an embolization, and as such they are monitored over night.

Some people develop fever, weakness and nausea, a temporary condition called 'post-embolization syndrome,' that usually subsides within a few days.

 

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