Melania Trump's touching tribute to Texas flood victims
The First Lady shared that she had been gifted a charm bracelet she received from survivors at Camp Mystic as she honored the fallen campers.
Melania, 55, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the heartwarming message dedicated to the survivors from the Christian girls' summer camp devastated by a flash flood on July 4.
'FOREVER LOVE, MYSTIC,' the First Lady wrote in a post showing the handcrafted charm bracelets which she called 'a permanent reminder' of the lives lost.
'This bracelet will forever hold a sacred place in my heart— a quiet, shining thread to the young souls who now watch over us from heaven.
'Each charm carries the weight of their memory, the warmth of their presence, and will forever symbolize their love. Mystic is permanently bound through the joyous times spent together and the remembrance of their shared laughter,' the emotional post concluded.
The private Christian girls' camp located on the Guadalupe River, was struck by a sudden and catastrophic wall of water during the early hours of Independence Day.
A barrage of rain caused the river to surge over 30 feet above its natural height, causing mass destruction and claiming the lives of 27 girls and counselors at the Hunt, Texas, location.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump and the First Lady visited the flood-ravaged area, where they met with first responders, families of the victims, and survivors of the tragic weather event.
Melania said she was deeply moved by the stories shared by young girls and their families.
'My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls,' she said after touring the devastation with the President. 'We are grieving with you.'
The Trumps later held a private meeting with the victims' families.
'We pray with them, we hug, we hold hands,' the First Lady said of that time.
'I met beautiful young ladies. They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that lost their lives. So we are here to honor them and also to give the support,' she said, holding up her arm to show the silver charm bracelet.
Known for her typically reserved public presence, Melania made a rare and heartfelt statement of support to those grieving, and promised she would return to the area.
'I will be back. I promise to them. And I just pray for them and [am] giving them my strength and love,' she said.
Trump, 78, who had approved a federal disaster declaration for the region earlier in the week, described the flooding as 'like a tidal wave,' saying the extent of the damage was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The flood was triggered by days of heavy rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, overwhelming parts of Kerr and Kendall counties.
Authorities said dozens were swept away in what they called an 'unprecedented surge.'
More than 100 people remain missing a week after heavy rains and flash floods devastated Texas Hill Country, destroying homes and leaving families struggling to recover.
Emergency workers and volunteers are still combing through debris, holding out hope that some trapped residents may yet be found alive.
Officials warn the death toll - which has reached 129 as of Saturday evening - could continue to rise in the coming days.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Canadian musician calls off U.S. concerts amid pushback to Trump policies
Canadian rock musician Matthew Good has canceled a slate of upcoming shows in the United States as a pushback to policies promoted by President Donald Trump. The Burnaby, British Columbia-born musical artist, 54, opened up on his change of plans in cities such as Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh via the social media website Facebook Friday. 'To my US fans, and friends ... I've come to the personal decision, that I can't, in good conscience carry out my dates this summer in your country,' said the musician, whose signature tracks include Decades and Hello Time Bomb. Good added: 'This is not fair to you, and I'm very well aware of that, but the truth is, every week that goes by, I have a deeper disdain for what's going on there politically.' In referring to Trump's tariffs and other policies, Good said that he would not be able to perform in the U.S. again until major political changes were to happen; and that he was willing to risk his 'future U.S. career to stand up against things today.' Trump, in six months since taking office for his second term, has rankled Canada and its citizens over a number of issues - including his repeated references to it being the '51st state.' A number of X users slammed Good for the move, with one user saying that the political reasoning was 'likely an excuse due to lack of interest.' Another user joked: 'Those poor Americans. How will they ever get over this one?' with a broken heart emoji. One X user said in response that Good was 'only hurting himself and the people who work for the band financially' with the move, adding that 'Americans wont notice one way or the other.' Said one user: 'One was a 400 seat brew pub. His date was sandwiched between trivia night and a cover band. He wasn't doing a Las Vegas residency.' Good said on the social media site that he was persuaded to cancel the shows after Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney called off a digital services tax against the U.S. to 'appease' Trump. 'This was approximately 2 billion dollars in revenue that has been accumulating, and we're walking away from that,' Good said. Good added that between 'the massive increase in visa costs, the fear mongering that even after we have our visas, we may still be denied entry if we have something negative to say about the current GOP, and I end up in a situation where I'm biting my tongue, and losing what credibility I had to stand up and say something. ' Good said that the current political climate made it clear he had to do something to show where he stood. A number of X users slammed Good for the move, with one user saying that the political reasoning was 'likely an excuse due to lack of interest' 'I can't stand by and be quiet while our amazing country is bullied into walking away from billions in needed revenue, constantly left wondering if we actually have a partner or an enemy to the south.' He said that 'equally as tragic' would be 'supporting someone who has completely bastardized the institution of art and culture in the US.' Good said that it would be 'unfair' to try and recruit 'other artists to join' him in the political protest, as he planned to center his musical career out of his native Canada for the foreseeable future. 'I have built a career here in Canada that I'm proud of, and will double down here over the next 3 years, and invite my US fans to any show they want to here,' Good said. Good said that fans of his should mobilize their support for the musical group Texas King, which 'might suffer more out of this' on a business level. 'So as a favour, we encourage you to get out and support them wherever you can!' Good said. Good, who canceled dates in protest of Trump's policies, said that his 'world has always focussed on political awareness.' He added 'I know that you might not all be on the same side, so I want to be clear about this. It's MY opinion.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Ian Ziering pays tribute to 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty in heartfelt post
Ian Ziering, star of Beverly Hills, 90210, paid tribute to his former co-star Shannen Doherty on the first anniversary of her death. Doherty died at the age of 53 from breast cancer, nine years after her initial diagnosis in 2015. Ziering explained on his Instagram why he did not immediately post about her passing, stating that grief is a personal process and not a performance. He expressed his shock at her death, having believed she was strong enough to overcome the illness. Ziering reflected on their relationship, acknowledging their early clashes but highlighting their eventual mutual respect and Doherty's talent.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Who is Joe Rogan's VERY private wife Jessica Ditzel as the podcaster's family are seen enjoying mega-yacht vacation
While his bond with US President Donald Trump seems to be fraying, Joe Rogan 's relationship with his wife of 15 years, Jessica Ditzel, is still going strong. While the controversial podcast host of The Joe Rogan Experience is known for his divisive opinions - and publicly sharing them on multiple platforms - his wife is the opposite. Ditzel, 49, is known as a very private person - she rarely makes appearances at events and doesn't have any public social media accounts. Sharing her stance on privacy in her Instagram bio, it states: 'Anonymity is underrated.' The former model was spotted over the weekend with her husband and two youngest daughters on a super yacht, with Rogan and Ditzel looking loved up in exclusive pictures obtained by Daily Mail. The media mogul, 57, who is known for his UFC commentating and has cultivated a large MAGA following, was seen on board the OKTO, a 218-foot vessel, off the coast of Venice on Saturday. The massive 2014-vintage yacht (and its 16-member crew) costs between $561,000 to $642,000 a week to charter. The luxurious OKTO boasts a huge infinity pool on the main deck, jacuzzi, cinema, gym, helipad and five staterooms for 10 guests. With Ditzel spotted on board enjoying some time with Rogan, FEMAIL takes a look at their relationship and what is known about the mysterious wife of the podcast host. Who is Jessica Ditzel? Ditzel was born in Sugar Land, Texas. She then went on to complete a bachelor's degree in arts and technical theatre at California State University, per Sportskeeda. She later attended the University of Arizona where she got a degree in phycology and molecular biology. The blonde beauty has worked as a model as well as several sources reporting she previously worked as a product analyst. But she was working as a cocktail waitress at a bar in Los Angeles when she first met Rogan in 2001. The couple married in 2009 despite Rogan previously saying that he is against marriage. 'I had to [marry her],' Rogan told the Palm Beach Post in July 2009. 'Not really had to, but you know, she made a baby. [It's] like, "God, all right, I'll sign a silly legal contract." What she did was way more of a commitment.' Rogan has spoken about his wife several times, telling comedian Andrew Schultz earlier in the year that he and his wife don't hold back in their conversations. 'If she wants to talk about something, she'll bring it up,' he explained on his podcast. 'Like if she wants to talk about something heavy, it's not like I wouldn't talk about something heavy with her, but generally like I come home from work, she's been with the kids she's doing this and that, we eat dinner, we have fun, "How was school?," have a good time, maybe we'll watch a little Severance together,' he added. The couple share three daughters Ditzel has a daughter from a previous relationship, Kayja Rose, who was born in 1996. After Kayja's biological father, whom several publications have reported was Keven 'Dino' Conner of the R&B group H-Town, died in a car accident in 2003, with Rogan adopting Kayja in 2009. Rogan spoke to host Rosie O'Donnell on a January 2012 episode of The Rosie Show, describing his adopted daughter was not just his child but also 'like his friend.' 'I've worked really hard on making sure we talk to each other as openly as possible, even about boys, weird stuff she feels uncomfortable talking about, it's really important that I have conversations with her where she never feels like she's out of the loop,' he explained at the time. The couple also share Lola, 17, and Rosy, 14. The family now live in Lake Austin, Texas. Rogan describes his wife as 'dedicated' and 'kind' While the media personality doesn't talk about his family that often, he has shared small details of his life at home throughout the years. In 2015, he told Rolling Stone that Ditzel lets him do 'whatever I do,' which is part of why their relationship is successful. 'That's how we get along well. She doesn't f*** with me. A prenup? Of course. I'm ridiculous and dumb, but I'm not stupid,' Rogan added. Rogan appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast in 2022, where he described his wife as 'really nice.' 'You wanna be with someone who's like genuinely kind,' he said passionately. 'That's one of the things that I really love about my wife,' the UFC color commentator added. 'She is a dedicated disciplined person. She is also really nice. That's one of the things I like the most about her.' He added his advice for couples is to 'find someone you can grow with,' and with whom you share the same values. 'You don't wanna be with someone who makes excuses, you don't wanna be with someone who's lazy,' Rogan listed as examples. Rogan has also described Ditzel as 'fun' and as someone who is 'always smiling.' 'She's happy, she's a happy person,' Rogan told Fridman. 'She's happy to be around - that's the kind of people you could have in your life as friends, as coworkers, as lovers, as wives and husbands. When you find those people, your life is better.' Ditzel and Rogan moved around together before settling in Texas Ditzel and Rogan currently live in Austin, Texas, after moving from Bell Canyon, California in 2020. Rogan has previously said that California's strict COVID-19 restrictions were partly why they made the move to Texas. 'Everything's shut down, everything's staying shut down,' he recalled of the pandemic in California,' per 'All my friends that were in the restaurant industry were struggling.' Rogan gushed about his new city in a 2023 episode of the Oil and Whiskey podcast, describing it as 'cool as hell.' 'Austin is a f***ing great town! The people are cool as hell, the food's amazing, and it's a great live music scene,' he said enthusiastically. 'It's just a great place to live and for comedians.' The couple were living in Gold Hill, Colorado, before they tied the knot, and had plans to move Denver before Ditzel found out she was pregnant in 2008. 'I was there for four months. We planned on living there for a year, then maybe permanently,' Rogan said in an episode of his podcast, per Newsweek. 'But, along the way, my wife got pregnant and we were at 8,500 feet above sea level. And it was just, it's brutal.' Rogan and Ditzel's $14.4 million family mansion on Lake Austin is also where he records his highly-successful podcast. The couple purchased the home in 2020, with the 4-acre property comes with 300 feet of Lake Austin frontage, according to the original listing. The 11,000-square-foot mansion was built in 2008 and offers eight bedrooms and 10 baths.
