Melania Trump named Fox Nation’s ‘Patriot of the Year’ for global children’s advocacy work

First lady Melania Trump accepts the Patriot of the Year award, applauds American dreamers and innovators who embrace originality at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards.

First lady Melania Trump accepted the prestigious "Patriot of the Year" award at the seventh annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards in Brookville, New York, on Thursday night.

The event honors the nation’s unsung heroes and ordinary people achieving extraordinary goals. Now serving her second term as first lady, Melania Trump has expanded her international advocacy for children.

"I applaud American dreamers and innovators who embrace originality," said Trump while accepting the award. 

"Let's embrace the spirit of ambition. Let's celebrate everyone who dares to think differently. For it is these courageous Americans who are the heartbeat of our civilization."

The first lady received the honor one year after her husband, then President-elect Donald Trump, was presented with the honorary award following his 2024 election victory.

STARS UNITE AS FOX NATION’S PATRIOT AWARDS GEAR UP TO HONOR THE HEART AND HEROISM OF AMERICA

In October, Melania Trump said her ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin contributed to the reunification of eight Ukrainian children with their families. Russia continues to face accusations of abducting thousands of children during the war.

The first lady’s "peace letter" was hand-delivered to Putin during an August summit in Alaska. Around the same time, Ukraine’s first lady sent her a note, carried by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his White House visit, thanking her for drawing attention to the issue.

First lady Melania Trump hosts a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 4, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)