President Trump surprised Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at a school choice event Wednesday at the White House, arriving unannounced to deliver remarks promoting the continued funding of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
In the middle of DeVos' remarks discussing the need to expand charter schools to benefit lower-income Americans, Vice President Mike Pence alerted her to Trump's presence behind her in the Roosevelt Room. After offering to let her conclude her remarks, Trump took the microphone.
"The opportunity scholarship program that we're funding allows families in the inner city of our nation's capital to leave failing public schools and attend a private school, making an extraordinary difference in these incredible young lives," he said.
"During my campaign for president, I promised to fight for school choice," he added. "Very important. It was featured in my joint address to Congress and today I'm calling on all lawmakers to work with us to help extend school choice to millions more children all across the United States of America, including millions of low-income Hispanic and African American children who deserve the same chance as every other child to live out their dreams and fill up their hearts and be educated at the top, top level."
Trump said the event was not on his schedule initially, but he wanted to stop by.
"I'm so proud to be with these wonderful families and wonderful children," he said. "And I'm deeply excited for the amazing things that lie ahead for these truly inspiring young Americans right here in Washington, D.C."
Pence spoke later in the event, saying this was an early installment of expanding educational opportunities in the United States.