
First Lady Melania Trump, usually a demure and soft-spoken presence at her husband's side, broke with form, reciting the Lord's Prayer before issuing a scathing rebuke of his enemies and her critics at a campaign-style stop in Florida.

Though she is not a traditional First Lady, she showed she would not be ignored by wearing a bright red $2,200 Alexander McQueen dress and a pair of $600 Louboutins to introduce the president in Florida.

Preceding her husband on the dais at a rally in the city of Melbourne not far from Orlando, the First Lady started her remarks with the words 'let us pray,' before beginning her recitation of the well-known Christian prayer.

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Finding her strike: Melania Trump gave the audience in Melbourne a taste of her First Lady style with a speech eschewing critics

In her speech, Mrs Trump said: 'I am committed to creating and supporting initiatives geared to my heart, which will have impacts on women and children all around the world'

Red alert: Melania Trump stuns in red, a bright contrast to her husband in a neutral navy blue suit

Last week, Mrs Trump publicly referenced her religion when she tweeted a photo of Mar-a-Lago saying: 'Proud to share part of my family history with Mrs. Abe @BBTSchurch where @POTUS & I were married, where we celebrate and we pray.'

Melania Trump steps from the stage after speaking at President Trump's MAGA rally

President Trump fared unprecedentedly well with white evangelical Christians in the 2016 election.

After the prayer, which was followed by a thunderous applause, she launched into an uncharacteristically strident defense of her husband - and her own brief tenure as First Lady.

'The America we envision is one that works for all Americans and where all Americans can work and succeed,' she said.

'A nation committed to a greater civility and unity between people from all sides of the political divide. I will always stay true to myself and be truthful to you, no matter what the opposition is saying about me,' the First Lady said, wearing an Alexander McQueen red frock with a fitted waist and flared skirt and Louboutin pumps.

This part about opposition may have been a jab at media coverage. President Trump's speech was heavily about his disdain for how the press has covered his time in office.

'I will act in the best interests of all of you. I'm committed to creating and supporting initiatives dear to my heart. Which will have impact on women, and children all around the world,' she said.

'My husband is creating a country of great safety, and prosperity,' she said before introducing President Donald Trump, ceding the podium to cheers and applause.

The first lady has been a rare presence with her husband since the inauguration. To the dismay of some critics, she has decided to continue living at their palatial residence in Trump Tower in New York until their 10-year-old son Barron finishes the school year.

Finding her stride: Usually a demure and soft-spoken Melania Trump broke from form at the Melbourne rally

First lady Melania Trump sits and listens to President Donald Trump speak after she introduced him at the Melbourne rally

Last week, First Lady Melania Trump showed her love for the outdoors by choosing to leave her penthouse in Trump Tower and trekking to Delray, Florida for a museum and garden tour with the Japanese Prime Minister's wife.

It was Mrs Trump's first public appearance as first lady without her husband.

All smiles, the First Lady joined the Prime Minister of Japan's wife, Akie Abe, in a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden.

Purists and traditionalists have been disappointed that the first lady has not kept with precedent and immediately joined her husband in the White House residence.

The former model from Slovenia is 24 years younger than her 70-year-old billionaire husband. She is Trump's third wife.

Her modeling career brought her in the mid-1990s to the United States, where she met the real estate mogul and reality television star she would eventually marry.

Expensive tastes: Mrs Trump wowed in a Alexander McQueen red dress and red Louboutin pumps

The First Lady has been scarcely seen with her husband since the inauguration

President Donald Trump points to First Lady Melania Trump as they walked on stage in Melbourne

Jetting off: The President and First Lady waved to supporters as they left the campaign-style rally

President Trump hit the campaign stump for a rally in Melbourne, a city on Florida's famed Space Coast, seeking to reconnect with his tribe of largely white, male middle-class voters.

He delivered a speech lasting about 45 minutes in what was billed by the White House as 'a campaign rally for America.'

Criticism of Melania has been mild compared to the blistering attacks lodged against her embattled husband, who is engaged in open warfare with the media and who faced major political contretemps over allegations of possible ties between his senior aides and officials in Russia.

The controversy led to the resignation earlier this week of national security adviser Michael Flynn.