Melania Trump appears at her first solo public appearance in weeks — and wears a $4,595 gown

Melania Trump made her first solo appearance in more than 30 days on Sunday, wearing a shiny, black Escada gown.

The first lady wore the $4,595 floor-length black sleeveless dress with a silver-and-white neckline (currently marked down to $2,757 on the Saks Fifth Avenue website) to make a speech at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., which is forever known as the place where 16th U.S. president Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. President Trump, meanwhile, is currently in Singapore to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“Thank you @FordsTheatre & the talented performers for a special evening celebrating the arts & the legacy of former President Lincoln,” FLOTUS tweeted. “Congratulations to @jacknicklaus& Sheila Johnson, the recipients of the Lincoln Medal!”

Melania, the honorary chair, congratulated entrepreneur Sheila C. Johnson and golfer Jack Nicklaus, the recipients of the Lincoln Medal, an honor bestowed to people who continue Lincoln’s legacy. Previous awards have gone to Maya Angelou, Julie Andrews, and Morgan Freeman.

“I was honored to be part of such a special evening,” said Melania, 48, according to a White House press release. “Tonight reminds all of us about the power the arts have in cultivating the American voice. Thank you to Ford’s Theatre Society for tonight, and your continued dedication to education and leadership in the arts — the impact they have on society is invaluable and something we will continue to cherish throughout time.”

Last year, Melania and the president appeared together at the event, with the first lady looking angelic in a champagne-colored Monique Lhuillier gown.

Melania made her last solo appearance on May 8, to speak at the Spouses of the Senate Luncheon at the National Portrait Gallery, to which she wore a $595 bright pink jacket by Tibi and a pair of $450 matching satin-twill tapered pants. At the lunch, the first lady promoted her “Be Best” campaign, which targets health, social media, and opioid abuse, per a White House press release.

Melania is now hitting the grind after a controversial absence following a May 14 embolization procedure for a benign kidney condition. On Friday, the president shed more light on his wife’s condition, telling reporters, “Can’t fly for one month, the doctors say. She had a big operation, that was close to a four-hour operation. And she’s doing great.”

And on Wednesday, the first couple sat for a meeting at Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. Melania wore a tan-colored shirt dress (one of her favored styles) and, naturally, a pair of stiletto heels.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• President Trump says Melania had a ‘4-hour operation’ and ‘can’t fly for one month’ — is that normal?

• Melania Trump makes her first public appearance in weeks and appears to be ‘perfectly healthy’

• It’s a Trump family weekend at Camp David — but where’s Melania?

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