On May 22, 2025, First Lady Melania Trump released a public statement invoking the Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum” after a fatal shooting involving two Israeli Embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C.
Israeli Embassy employees, Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were fatally shot on the evening of May 21, 2025. The incident occurred as they left the Capital Jewish Museum in Northwest Washington after attending an American Jewish Committee event on humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The shooting took place shortly after 9 p.m. when Elias Rodriguez, 31, from Chicago, Illinois, approached a group outside the museum and fired a handgun. He continued shooting even as Milgrim attempted to move away. Police Chief Pamela Smith reported that Rodriguez had been seen pacing the area before the attack.
After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum appearing upset, and witnesses unknowingly offered him water. When the police arrived about ten minutes later, he confessed, shouting “Free, free Palestine” and displaying a red keffiyeh, according to witnesses.
President Donald Trump responded early Thursday on Truth Social, condemning what he called antisemitic violence. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and stated that hatred and radicalism are unwelcome in the U.S.
Melania Trump’s statement, posted Thursday afternoon on social media, opened with “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “Out of many, one.” This was the U.S. motto before “In God We Trust” took its place in 1956. The Latin phrase was proposed on July 4, 1776, and adopted with the Great Seal by Congress in 1782.
The First Lady’s message highlighted constitutional values, emphasizing tolerance, unity, and religious freedom as American governance’s core principles. She called on Americans to consider their shared identity and future while committing to uphold individual dignity.
In her statement, Melania Trump mentioned the victims by name, stressing the need for moral clarity and action. She urged Americans to unite in grief and determination against hatred, ending with “We Are One.”
Federal prosecutors have charged Rodriguez with several felonies, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, causing death through firearm use, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that further charges could be added as the investigation progresses, treating the case as a hate crime and terrorism act.
The victims met at the embassy in late 2023, and Lischinsky planned to propose during an upcoming trip to Israel. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter disclosed that Lischinsky had bought an engagement ring earlier that week to propose to Milgrim in Jerusalem.
Lischinsky, a German-born Israeli citizen, worked as a research assistant in the embassy’s political department. Milgrim, from Overland Park, Kansas, organized missions and visits to Israel. Colleagues described both as dedicated to peace-building and fostering relations.
The American Jewish Committee event they attended aimed to unite multi-faith organizations for humanitarian aid in conflict regions like Gaza. The reception hosted around 50 young diplomats and foreign policy professionals.
Since her husband’s second inauguration in January 2025, Melania Trump has kept a low public profile, spending less than two weeks at the White House. However, she made several public appearances this week, including a speech at the White House Rose Garden supporting the “TAKE IT DOWN” bill against revenge porn and AI-generated deepfakes.
On May 21, the First Lady also spoke at the Senate Spouses Luncheon at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., emphasizing her BE BEST platform and her commitment to the Fostering the Future initiative for children’s welfare.
Following the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered increased security at Israeli diplomatic missions globally. Security experts described the attack as seemingly well-planned, with the gunman waiting for the victims to exit.
