Cost of Mirabela Grădinaru’s Trip to Melania Trump Summit Revealed

Mirabela Grădinaru, the partner of President Nicușor Dan and described as Romania’s de facto first lady, recently traveled to Washington DC to participate in a high-profile international summit hosted by Melania Trump.

The event, titled Fostering the Future Together, took place on March 24 and 25, 2026. The inaugural summit focused on a global coalition dedicated to children’s digital education, promoting international cooperation to improve the well-being of children through technology, innovation, and education.

Diplomatic Engagement in Washington

The summit featured representation from 45 countries, primarily through the partners of heads of state. Among the notable attendees were the first ladies of France, Brigitte Macron, and Ukraine, Olena Zelenska.

During the initial meeting on March 24, Mirabela Grădinaru delivered a speech following contributions from the first ladies of Serbia, Ukraine, Burundi, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the first gentleman of Slovenia.

Grădinaru expressed her gratitude to Melania Trump for the invitation, describing the initiative as an extremely valuable one, generating momentum, visibility, and the much-needed dynamism in this field.

She emphasized that the future of a nation depends on its children and stated her desire for Romania to raise healthy children with equal opportunities. She further noted that it is essential to adopt an integrated approach that better connects education, innovation, and technology.

Official Travel Expenditures

Following the trip, the Presidential Administration released official data regarding the costs of the delegation, responding to inquiries from Gândul. The total cost for the trip was 31,379.36 lei.

According to the Presidential Administration, this total amount covered only the economy class flight tickets and the per diem for two state counselors within the delegation.

The breakdown of the expenses is as follows:

• Mirabela Grădinaru: 8,967.21 lei, which covered only her economy class flight ticket.
• Rest of the delegation: 22,412 lei for flight tickets and per diem.

The administration clarified that Mirabela Grădinaru did not receive a per diem during the trip.

Accommodation and Logistics

The Presidential Administration stated that it did not reimburse any costs for accommodation for the delegation or for Mirabela Grădinaru.

Reports indicate that the delegation and Grădinaru likely stayed at the Residence of the Romanian Embassy in Washington. The residence is noted for having 46 rooms, allowing the delegation to stay on-site without incurring additional hotel expenses.

The summit’s activities included a roundtable discussion held at the White House as part of the two-day program aimed at fostering global educational standards for children.