First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Texas Thursday morning for a surprise visit to children being held at the border by her husband's administration but the public was banned from seeing her interact with the kids.

Dressed in a creme button down safari jacket, white pants, and sneakers, the First Lady arrived in a rainy McAllen, Texas, to tour a facilities where children are being held.

And while her briefing with officials was broadcast live on cable news there were no photos of her meeting the children being detained in the facility.

During the visit, the first lady interacted with dozens of kids, visiting three classrooms, and talking to several of them.

But, while a print reporter was allowed to write about the interactions, the White House set 'ground rules' that forbid 'audio or photos' of her with the kids.

Melania Trump's communications director Stephanie Grisham explained the rule was for the children's safety.

'She visited with minor children so it was to protect their safety,' Grisham explained to the DailyMail.com in a statement.

The Trump administration has been limiting media access to the facilities where children are being held amid a firestorm of controversy over President Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy that has led to the migrant kids being separated from their parents.

The first lady's trip also became notable for her fashion.

When getting on a government plane at Andrews Air Force Base she wore a $39 Zara military jacket with the extraordinary message printed on the back in broad, white, paint-like strokes: 'I don't care, do u?'

President Donald Trump claimed Melania was referring to 'the Fake News Media' with her jacket when he tweeted in her defense Thursday evening.

Melania was video taped walking toward the Oval Office wearing the jacket upon her return from Texas.

''I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO YOU?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media,' the president wrote. 'Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares.'

Her spokesperson, however, said it was just a jacket.

'It's a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope this isn't what the media is going to choose to focus on,' Grisham told the DailyMail.com in a statement.

Grisham also tweeted about the coverage of the coat.

'Today's visit w the children in Texas impacted @flotus greatly. If media would spend their time & energy on her actions & efforts to help kids - rather than speculate & focus on her wardrobe - we could get so much accomplished on behalf of children.'

She added the hashtags #shecares #itsjustajacket

The first lady also wore the jacket when she deplaned at Andrews Air Force base upon her return to Washington D.C. where it's 82 degrees and muggy.

Who is the message for? The First Lady wore a $39 Zara military jacket for the start of the trip - with the message 'I really don't care, do u?' in huge print on the back - as seen (right) being sold online by Zara

Melania Trump was wearing her controversial jacket when she returned to Washington DC

The 'I don't care, do u?' was clearly visible

President Trump tweeted his wife was referring to the 'fake media' with her coat

The $39 Zara jacket garnered much attention for its message

The first lady wore the jacket on her way to Texas

Melania Trump's spokesperson said: 'It's a jacket. There was no hidden message.'

The jacket contained the extraordinary message printed on the back in broad, white, paint-like strokes: 'I don't care, do u?'

Extraordinary visit: The First Lady signed an American flag greeting her at Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter after she toured the facility

Taking part: The First Lady signed her own name at the bottom of the handmade stars and stripes welcome sign at the children's center

Side by side: The First lady traveled with Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, for the trip which was also to a border processing center

Explanation: Officials from the Upbring New Hope Children's Center spoke to the First Lady before she toured the facility to meet children

Round table talks: Melania Trump heard from doctors, social workers and law enforcement at the Upbring New Hope Children's Center in McAllen, Texas

Inspection: Melania Trump toured the child shelter in McAllen, Texas, where 55 children are being held after crossing the border. The 'majority' did so unaccompanied, but it is unclear how many were taken from their parents

Artwork: The First Lady, making her first solo trip outside Washington D.C. since she had kidney surgery, looked at art on the walls of the children's shelter in McAllen, Texas, where children are being held after crossing the border

Inside the facility: The First Lady was shown how the children are cared for, including decorations showing the pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower. It was unclear if these had been made by the children

Austere: This is one of the bedrooms where children are held in the facility visited by the First Lady.

Visit: Melania Trump made an unexpected trip to Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter, where 55 children are currently being held

Concern: The First Lady said she was at the shelter to say 'thank you for your hard work, your compassion, your kindness in these hard times'

Melania Trump arrived in Texas to visit children at a 'tender age' shelter where children including some separated from their families at the border are being held

Surprise: The visit was not disclosed in advance but comes after the First Lady pressured her husband to end the policy of forced separations

The first lady said she was happy to be visiting the kids.

'I'm looking forward to meeting the children,' she said during her visit to the Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter, a facility that is sheltering 55 children - 27 boys, 28 girls who range from ages from 12 to 17, most of whom are from Guatemala. And all but six were unaccompanied minors, with the rest having been separated.

And while Melania Trump was making her visit, at exactly the same time, President Trump claimed there was a 'massive child smuggling industry' at the border.

He spoke at length before a cabinet meeting, claiming that there was a 'massive child smuggling industry'.

'People are suffering because of the Democrats. They created, and they have let it happen, a massive child smuggling industry,' he said. 'The human traffickers are making a fortune. It's a disgrace.'

His comments come after he had to execute a u-turn on child separations which had exploded because of a new zero-tolerance policy for people crossing the border illegally, with Border Patrol ordered to arrest and prosecute every person caught crossing illegally.

The Texas briefing was a rare opportunity to hear the first lady speak. She is mostly seen and not heard when at public appearances with her husband. She did not ask questions when she joined her husband two weeks ago at a hurricane preparedness briefing at FEMA.

But the solo trip gave her a chance to address officials in Texas. 'Thank you for all you do,' she told officials as she started the meeting.

She spoke softly and in a slightly accented voice.

'Thank you so much for having me today. I'm glad I'm here and looking forward to meeting the children,' she said.

'I'd also like to ask you how I can help reunite these children with their families as quickly as possible,' she added.

Her first question was: 'How often do the children get to call and talk to their families?'

She also asked officials what kind of shape the children are in when they arrive. 'I've heard they are very happy. They love to study. They love school,' the First Lady said.

Additionally, she wanted to know how long the children stayed at the center and if they were without the parents.

Officials told her the majority of the children had arrived unaccompanied - meaning it is unclear how many were victims of family separation.

First lady Melania Trump greets boarder patrol agents before boarding a plane at McAllen Miller International Airport

SMILE! Melania Trump took photos with border agents before she returned to Washington

The first lady made a short, surprise visit to Texas

Rainy weather forced Melania Trump to cancel one of her scheduled stops

Melania Trump steps out of her motorcade at Andrews Air Force Base

Melania Trump boards a plane at Andrews Air Force base to travel to Texas, wearing a jacket with an extraordinary political message

The first lady wore the same jacket when she returned to Andrews Air Force Base

Melania Trump's spokesperson tweeted her criticism of the jacket coverage

Melania Trump boards her plane to depart the McAllen airport after a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border area in McAllen Texas

In the first classroom, Mrs. Trump shook hands with the children. There was laughter and lots of smiles, including three girls in the back row, hairs in buns, who were smiling a lot. A boy in the front row had a Spanish-English dictionary in front of him. Many of the kids wore gray T-shirts that said 'We Are One' with we in red, are in white and one in blue.

Mrs. Trump asked individually where they were from, how long they'd been there.

She spoke in English. Some responded in English. Others, the teacher translated for Mrs. Trump.

As she left she said, 'Be kind and nice to other, ok? Nice to meet you.' And then she helped them resume their counting exercise they'd been doing before she got there, chanting '62, 63, 64, 65.'

In the next classroom, the children were learning about angles and lines. The teacher explained a contest to build model bridges to Mrs. Trump. Kids worked in groups of four and whichever bridge held the most weight wins.

'Bubye. Good luck,' the first lady said. The kids applauded as she left.

In the third classroom, a poster of U.S. presidents that went through George W. Bush was on the wall to the right of the door. A hand painted U.S. flag covered the white wipe board. It read 'Welcome! First lady.'

There were 12 kids in this room and all were girls. Mrs. Trump asked where they were from. One said she'd been here for two months. Another told her they were learning how to celebrate the Fourth of July.

They each signed to flag to give to her. Aides began to roll it up but the plan changed. Melania Trump signed it herself before leaving, to leave behind as a gift.

She also asked what kinds of music they like.

'They like to dance a lot,' the teacher said. Mrs. Trump asked for a demonstration but then laughed. 'This is a serious class.... so study hard' and be kind to each other, she told them and added that friendship 'is very important.'

She then moved to the nurses office for a briefing on medical care.

Grisham said the first lady wanted see the facilities for herself and to thank the staff working in them.

'Her goals are to thank law enforcement and social services providers for their hard work, lend support and hear more on how the administration can build upon the already existing efforts to reunite children with their families,' Grisham said.

Her visit comes amid a political firestorm for the Trump administration. President Donald Trump took heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle, former presidents and his own wife about the 'zero tolerance' immigration policy that resulted in migrant children being separated from their families at the border.

Melania Trump issued a rare public statement on the issue over the weekend, inserting herself into a policy issue that she had previously been silent upon.

Her next visit was scheduled to be the Ursula Border Patrol Processing Center, a Customs and Border Patrol/Department of Homeland Security intake center where migrant families spend a few days.

But that was canceled due to flooding.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar traveled with her.

Her spokesperson said the First Lady will continue to be a vocal presence on the issue as administration officials try to work out ways to reunited children and their families after President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday.

'While we're going through that process she's going to lend her support and promote family reunification and I'm sure she'll continue to give her husband opinions on what she's thinking along the way,' Grisham said of the visit.

Dress down: The First Lady flew to McAllen, Texas, dressed in Adidas Sam Smith shoes, white pants, a creme button down safari shirt and a green jacket

Her Zara jacket costs $39 online

Sober trip: Melania Trump said she was in Texas to thank social workers and law enforcement for their work 'in these hard times'

Wet arrival: The First lady arrived at McAllen airport on a government jet in heavy rain for her visit to a children's shelter and a border processing center

Husband's blessing: Donald Trump, who held a cabinet meeting in the White House while his wife toured the facility, supported her visit, the First Lady's spokeswoman said

Frenzy on the border: At the same time as the First Lady was in McAllen, Democratic mayors and activists were holding a rally at the Tornillo port of entry near El Paso, protesting family separations

On the border: Melania Trump visits the Upbring New Hope Children Center, run by the Lutheran Social Services of the South, in McAllen, Texas, an unexpected visit the day after her husband ended the policy of family separation at the border

here to see what's happening: The First Lady's spokeswoman said Melania wants to see children reunited with their families. 'She'll do everything she can and she'll speak her opinions as much as she can.'

Grisham emphasized how much the first lady wants to see children reunited with their families.

'She'll do everything she can and she'll speak her opinions as much as she can.'

Helping children is slowly becoming the first lady's signature issue. When she announced her policy agenda four days before she had a kidney procedure, she called it 'Be Best' and said she would help children become the best they can be.

She appears most comfortable when she is with children. Often bending down to speak with them and smiling broadly at them and their questions.

The visit also marks a rare solo public trip for Melania Trump, who eased into her role as first lady and then disappeared from the public eye for 25 days in May after she under went a kidney operation.

And her comes after President Donald Trump credited her and daughter Ivanka for helping change his mind about separating children from their families.

President Trump, when he signed his executive order on the issue on Wednesday, indicated that lobbying from Ivanka, who showed him pictures of the caged and kenneled children, and wife Melania had caused him to have a change in heart.

'Ivanka feels very strongly about it. My wife feels very strongly about it. I feel very strongly about it. I think anybody with a heart would feel very strongly about it,' he said.

The first lady also saw the photos from the border and heard the recordings of children being separated from their families.

'She's seen the images. She's heard the recordings,' Grisham said. 'She was on top of the situation before any of that came out. She was concerned about it.'

Grisham said Mrs. Trump saw the images of kids behind chain link fence at an intake facility.

'The images struck her, as a mother, as a human being.'

Melania Trump asked her staff on Tuesday to plan a trip as soon as possible – before President Trump signed the executive order and Grisham said she wasn't sure if Mrs. Trump knew that the order was coming.

Mobile: The First Lady's rare solo trip outside Washington D.C. to a children's center where she looked at artworks made by detained children came after her husband entered a political firestorm over illegal immigrant families being separated

Public expression: The First Lady's involvement in the border separation crisis marks a new phase in her public profile

'I don't know what she knew. She knew what she wanted to do and she told us,' Grisham said.

'She wanted to see everything for herself…. She supports family reunification. She thinks that it's important that children stay with their families.'

'This was 100 percent her idea. She absolutely wanted to come.'

And it was her idea to visit before her husband signed his executive order, Grisham said, and she had no second thoughts after the order was signed.

'She wants to see what's happening for herself and she wants to lend her support, executive order or not. The executive order certainly is helping pave the way a little bit, but there's still a lot to be done.'

President Trump supported this trip but he didn't send her.

'This was her decision. She told her staff she wanted to go and we made that happen. He is supportive of it but she told him, 'I'm headed down to Texas,' and he supported it.'

'She wants to see these children and she wants to help children. It's not about anything more than that…. She wants to see what's real. She wants to see a realistic view.'

The immigration debate is a rare public policy issue that Melania Trump has inserted herself into.

The first lady issued a rare public statement on Sunday about her husband's 'zero tolerance' policy.

It appeared to break with the Trump administration's stance.

Grisham said in a statement that 'Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform'.

'She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart.'

Melania Trump is an immigration herself. She was born in Yugoslavia, what is now Slovenia and came to New York City in 1996. She became a permanent resident of the U.S. in 2001 and became a citizen in 2006.

She is the first naturalized U.S. citizen to become First Lady of the United States.

Asked if her immigration background influenced Mrs. Trump's views, Grisham said she didn't know.

'I don't know that it plays into her thinking but I can tell you guys that when she came into this country she did it legally and she feels that everybody should enter the country legally,' she said.