Melania Trump Has Kidney Surgery: White House

BETHESDA, MD -- First Lady Melania Trump is recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., after undergoing a surgery to treat a benign kidney condition, the White House said in a statement.

"This morning, First Lady Melania Trump underwent an embolization procedure to treat a benign kidney condition," the statement from the White House reads. "The procedure was successful and there were no complications. Mrs. Trump is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and will likely remain there for the duration of the week. The First Lady looks forward to a full recovery so she can continue her work on behalf of children everywhere."

Trump, 48, will spend a few days in the hospital after the operation. It is the first serious medical procedure for a first lady since Nancy Reagan's mastectomy in October 1987, according to CNN, which noted that President Trump remained in the White House during the surgery.

There's no indication yet on how the surgery will impact her new "Be Best" campaign, which she launched May 7 to focus on opioid addiction, the physical and emotional well-being of children, and bullying on social media.

"The mission of BE BEST is to focus on some of the major issues facing children today, with the goal of encouraging children to BE BEST in their individual paths, while also teaching them the importance of social, emotional, and physical health. BE BEST will concentrate on three main pillars: well-being, social media use, and opioid abuse," states the White House website. "BE BEST will champion the many successful well-being programs that provide children with the tools and skills required for emotional, social, and physical health. The campaign will also promote established organizations, programs, and people who are helping children overcome some of the issues they face growing up in the modern world."

Her commitment to the last issue has earned her plenty of criticism due to the fact that her husband, President Trump, has widely been accused of cyberbullying himself on social media, using Twitter to hurl insults at his political opponents.

"I am well-aware that people are skeptical of me discussing this topic," she told tech industry leaders at the White House back in March. "I have been criticized for my commitment to tackling this issue, and I know that will continue. But it will not stop me from doing what I know is right."

Melania Trump remains more popular than her husband, according to at least some polls. A CNN poll released May 7 pegged her favorable rating at 57 percent. By contrast, FiveThirtyEight says that President Trump's favorable rating is at 42 percent based on an aggregation of numerous polls.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)