First lady greeted with cheers and boos at event in city Donald Trump once called a ‘rat and rodent infested mess’

This article is more than 9 months old

This article is more than 9 months old

Melania Trump was loudly booed on Tuesday, as she addressed an event in Baltimore as part of White House attempts to fight America’s opioid abuse epidemic.

Donald Trump angered many in Baltimore this summer when in attacking the Democratic congressman Elijah Cummings, he referred to the city as a “rat and rodent infested mess”.

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That prompted the Baltimore Sun newspaper to tell the president: “Better to have some vermin living in your neighbourhood than to be one.”

On Tuesday, the first lady attended the B’More Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness at University of Maryland Baltimore College.

She was introduced as “somebody who has made it their personal mission to use their platform to make a difference in this particular area, with wellness and addiction and particularly the opioid crisis that we’re living through right now”.

The host seemed to issue a precautionary appeal for civility, telling the audience they were “young people but also ladies and gentlemen”.

Nonetheless, a mixture of cheers and boos greeted Trump as she walked onstage. Boos could also be heard as she began to speak, though they quietened down.

The first lady discussed her Be Best initiative, which focuses well-being and online safety as well as combating opioid abuse.

“I am in this fight with you and I am fighting with you,” she said.

Her remarks lasted a little less than six minutes. As she left the stage, she again met with a mixture of cheers and boos.

In a statement released later the first lady said: “We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is we have a serious crisis in our country and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse.”