ABRAnews Open the whole story. Sign in
US Politics

Melania Trump announces $7.2 million LSU scholarship fund for students from foster care

The first lady then attended the LSU-Alabama game, where the Daily Beast reports boos and the New York Post reports loud applause.

Melania Trump in her official White House portrait, 2025
Melania Trump in her official White House portrait, 2025. Photo: Régine Mahaux, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
9 news outlets reported this
Liberal3 outletsBoos at the game and the post-midterm moodCenter2 outletsA pre-game announcement and the foster care recordConservative4 outletsA celebrated ceremony and a warm LSU welcome
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

On Saturday, First lady Melania Trump visited Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to announce a collaboration joining Louisiana State University with her Fostering the Future program. It will fund scholarships for LSU students who were in the foster care system. The endowment, which the White House and Fox News call permanent, totals $7.2 million, according to the White House, Fox News, the New York Post and the Daily Beast.

MMR Group, a Baton Rouge electrical contractor, committed $5 million, and additional LSU Foundation donors contributed. Fox News reports $2.2 million came from 75 foundation donors. Trump said LSU has 14 Fostering the Future scholars and Alabama has nine, and that 26 universities support 100 scholars this semester.

She then attended the LSU-Alabama football game. LSU players wore Be Best Fostering the Future logos, and a Melania Trump challenge coin was used for the coin toss. The Daily Beast says loud booing soon outweighed the crowd's initial, quieter cheers and that organizers played music over the speakers.

The New York Post says she drew loud applause. Her office had not immediately responded to the Daily Beast's request for comment.

Key figures
  • $7.2 millionscholarship endowment announced, per Fox NewsFox News
  • $5 millionMMR Group's commitment, per the New York PostNew York Post
  • 14LSU students who are Fostering the Future scholars, per LSU President Wade RousseNew York Post
  • 100 Fostering the Future scholarssupported this semester by 26 universities, per TrumpFox News
  • approximately $200,000expected yearly income from the $5 million gift, per LSU's president via Fox NewsFox News

Three sides of the story

3Liberal2Center4Conservative

9 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal3 outlets

Boos at the game and the post-midterm mood

The Daily Beast leads with the crowd, saying Trump spent her Saturday "getting an earful of boos" at the LSU-Alabama game. It reports that quieter initial cheers gave way to loud booing and that organizers played music in an "apparent attempt" to drown it out. LSU players wore her "Be Best" slogan, which was also shown on the big screen.

The $7.2 million endowment, with MMR Group's $5 million and more than $2 million from LSU Foundation donors, comes further down. The outlet links the scene to Tuesday's "blue wave" and recounts Louisiana's race, where Julia Letlow is projected to beat Democrat Jamie Davis, 50.9 percent to 49.1. It labels Trump "the least popular modern first lady on record."

Her office had not promptly answered a request for remarks. PBS NewsHour's headline covers the scholarship program for students who were in foster care, and the White House said Trump and LSU raised more than $7 million from private backers.

Center2 outlets

A pre-game announcement and the foster care record

Courthouse News runs an Associated Press wire report written before the event. It says Trump "was headed to Louisiana" on Saturday to announce the partnership and planned to attend the LSU-Alabama game. The report says the White House stated that Trump and LSU secured $5 million for the endowment and gave no details on the source of the money.

It adds background: LSU is among more than 20 colleges in the program, Trump pushed in April on foster care legislation that cleared and is pending in the Senate, and the president was not scheduled to attend. It quotes her saying "We can close this gap." The Hill's live-updates headline pairs her Baton Rouge visit with news of Peltola's campaign suing Alaska.

The Hill links the visit to the Fostering the Future initiative and states that the White House earlier announced her $5 million grant to LSU for a lasting endowment fund.

Conservative4 outlets

A celebrated ceremony and a warm LSU welcome

The New York Post headline says Trump was "cheered" as she launched $7.2 million in scholarships. The paper reports loud applause, her wave from a box with Louisiana members, and fans raising drinks to her motorcade. Fox News leads with the endowment, which it splits into MMR Group's $5 million and $2.2 million from 75 LSU Foundation donors.

It quotes LSU Foundation chief Krista Raney joking that LSU has "already won the first point" with 14 scholars to Alabama's nine. Fox also relays LSU President Wade Rousse saying the $5 million gift should yield about $200,000 a year, describes the gifts she received, and quotes her closing: "I see you. I believe in you."

The Epoch Times headline reports a $5 million scholarship fund for former foster youth. The Washington Times headline says she was set to announce the scholarship program.

What a side did not mention
  • Conservative outlets did not mentionDaily Beast reports boos from the crowd at the LSU-Alabama game, with music played to cover them Reported by The Daily Beast
Money and daily life

For LSU students who were in foster care, the new endowment funds Fostering the Future scholarships. According to the New York Post, LSU President Wade Rousse said 14 LSU students are scholars receiving funding for tuition, fees and books, and the endowment will also cover room and board. Fox News reports Rousse said the $5 million gift is expected to generate approximately $200,000 annually.

Official statements
All sources: 12 articles from 9 outlets

Liberal (3)

Center (2)

Conservative (7)

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress: 100 senators, two per state, elected for six years. It confirms judges and ministers and approves treaties.

All terms →
Congress

The US parliament: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill becomes law when both pass it and the president signs it.

All terms →
House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress: 435 members elected every two years, with more seats for bigger states. It is the chamber that can impeach officials.

All terms →
National Guard

Each state's military reserve. It normally answers to the governor, but the president can take command of it.

All terms →