The first lady spoke to middle and high school students at the Baltimore Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She was there on behalf of her “Be Best” youth campaign, which focuses on the deadly opioid epidemic.

The late Congressman Elijah Cummings served Maryland’s 7th congressional district including Baltimore, which Trump called a “rat and rodent infested mess” in July.

Hughley said the first lady deserved the resistance because of the president’s attack on the city. He described it as a justified way of fighting back against the president. He also called the president a coward for not showing up himself.

“Her husband disparaged Baltimore, and he sent his woman in,” Hughley said in a short interview with TMZ. “If you send your woman into a hornet’s nest you created, I think that’s cowardly.”

The summit in Baltimore was sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, whose mission is “to ensure that no child is limited or prevented from attaining their lifetime goal or dream due to financial circumstances.”

The goal was to help educate students, teachers and parents about opioid use and misuse.

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates there were 68,557 drug overdose deaths in 2018. An estimated 47,590 involved opioids and 31,897 involved synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and tramadol.

“Thank you to all of the students who are here,” said Melania Trump. “I am so proud of you for the bravery it takes to share that you have been strongly affected by the opioid epidemic in some way.”

The first lady addressed hundreds of school children, saying drug abuse and addiction are “universal issues” that don’t discriminate.

She urged students to continue the conversation about drugs with their friends and family, telling them to seek out resources if they know someone struggling with addiction.

“In my time as first lady, I have traveled to hospitals and addiction centers around the country and have seen devastating results of drug abuse and addiction,” she said.

On Wednesday, the first lady responded to her lukewarm reception, saying, “We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion…I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse.”

This was reportedly the first time Melania Trump has been booed at a solo event.