Over the years, the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps has had the opportunity to visit the White House and interview American political figures. At the Easter Egg Roll on April 17th, Kid Reporter Courtney Pine went behind-the-scenes at the White House where she talked with First Lady Melania Trump and top White House officials about their roles in the new administration.
Check out select highlights from her interviews, below!
Melania Trump, First Lady
KR: What do you think are some of the most important issues facing kids my age?
MT: I’m very passionate about social media and cyber bullying. I think that our youth and teenagers are going through a lot. So we need to take care of that. I feel that that’s one problem. We need to face it and take care of it.
KR: Which past First Lady do you admire the most, and why?
MT: All of the First Ladies did a fantastic job. There are a lot of obligations, and everybody had their own initiatives and [ways of] helping our country.
Sean Spicer, Press Secretary
KR: What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job?
SS: The press corps—that’s probably the biggest. No, that was my bad attempt at being funny.
We try to make sure that every day what the President does and why he’s doing it is effectively communicated. Sometimes, obviously, that’s a bit challenging to get through to a skeptical press corps. We have to continue to find ways to make sure that the American people know what [the President] is doing to keep the promises he made to them.
Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff
KR: Can you tell us about your job?
RP: It’s exciting every day. You never know what’s going to be in front of you—coordinating, care and feeding, or decision-making. A big part of the job is making sure that all of the people who have a voice in a particular decision are heard before a recommendation is presented to the President. Also, thinking on your feet and being good with other people. So, that’s the job.
Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President
KR: What are you most proud of President Trump for?
KC: I am most proud of President Trump for running in the first place because many people who are in politics are motivated by money or power or status or prestige and position. He had all of that, and he and his family have sacrificed enormously for him to run and to serve. That’s very attractive to many Americans because they know that he’s doing it for all the right reasons.
Don’t miss the full-length article and see photos from the day on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps blog, Kid Reporters’ Notebook. For more stories by Kid Reporters, follow us on Twitter at @KidsPress.
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