LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 15: Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, looks on as he talks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN presidential debate at The Venetian Las Vegas on December 15, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thirteen Republican presidential candidates are participating in the fifth set of Republican presidential debates.
Trump: Melania will be a fantastic first lady
02:14 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

More than an hour into a raucous White House news conference, President Donald Trump was asked a personal question about his wife, Melania Trump.

The President embraced the opportunity to talk about the first lady, who has not spent much time in the public eye since her husband assumed office almost four weeks ago, and to defend her against some of her critics.

“I think she is a great representative for this country, and a funny thing happens. She gets so unfairly maligned,” said Trump. “The things they say, and I have known her for a long time, the things they say are so unfair.”

Melania Trump has been falsely accused of working for an escort service – a charge she defended herself against in court, winning one of the cases, and continuing her fight against another outlet.

“I’ll tell you this, she is going to be a fantastic first lady, she is going to be a tremendous representative of women,” Trump said.

Trump added he has full confidence in his wife’s ability to handle the role, saying she feels “very, very strongly about women’s issues, women’s difficulties … (she will be a) very, very strong advocate.”

He also indicated Melania Trump will not be alone in her efforts.

“Helping her and working with her will be Ivanka (Trump), who is a fabulous person, and a fabulous, fabulous woman,” he said. “They aren’t doing this for money, they aren’t doing this for pay, they are doing this because they feel it, both of them.”

The President again confirmed the first lady, along with the couple’s 10-year-old son, Barron, will be moving to the White House when the youngest Trump finishes his school year in New York City.

“It is hard to take a child out of school with a few months left,” Trump said.

On Wednesday, Melania Trump performed her first official duties at the White House, hosting the wife of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and accompanying her on a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The first lady later tweeted out her thanks and appreciation, using a new hashtag that has so far accompanied a handful of her most recent tweets: #PowerOfTheFirstLady.