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First lady Melania Trump says she's 'great' since medical procedure

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Melania Trump responds to questions about her whereabouts
Win McNamee/Getty Images
ByJordyn Phelps
May 31, 2018, 5:47 PM

First Lady Melania Trump tweeted Wednesday that she is feeling "great" following widespread speculation over why she has not been seen in public since undergoing a medical procedure to treat what the White House has said was a "benign kidney condition."

While the first lady's conspicuous absence had become the source of some speculation, with the hashtag #whereismelania trending on Twitter, her communications director says the first lady is doing “really well” and is engaged on internal meetings.

“She's doing really well,” communications director Stephanie Grisham tells ABC News in a statement. “She's been involved in several internal meetings with staff all last week, and that continues this week. We've been going over initiatives and other long-term planning for events such as the congressional picnic and 4th of July.”

The last time the first lady was seen in public was in the early morning hours of May 10, when she joined the president at Joint Base Andrews to greet the three Americans released from North Korea.

Several days later, on May 14, the first lady underwent an embolization procedure involving her kidney at Walter Reed Medical Center. The public was informed of the procedure after its completion, which Grisham said was carried out successfully and without complication.

The first lady then returned home to the White House on May 19. During her stay at the hospital, the first lady tweeted her appreciation to the medical staff and offered thanks to the public for the well wishes she received.

The first lady's office has not said when her next public event will be.

Despite her focus on children's issues, she is not currently expected to attend a Sports and Fitness Day at the White House Wednesday that will seek to highlight the importance of youth sports participation.

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