CLEVELAND — Melania Trump sought to soften Donald Trump’s image as she delivered the keynote address on the first night of the Republican National Convention.

“Donald is and has always been an amazing leader. Now he will go to work for you,” the Slovenian immigrant said of her husband in her remarks to the convention floor.

“He’s sharp when he has to be, but he’s also kind and caring,” she said. “His kindness is not always noted, but it is there for all to see. That is one reason I fell in love with him to begin with.”

The speech attracted widespread praise from TV pundits and applause from the GOP delegates.

Melania Trump would be the first foreign-born first lady since Louisa Adams. She’d also be the first former supermodel to head the East Wing and the first third wife of a president. 

Melania Trump, who became a U.S. citizen in 2006, sought to highlight her immigrant past due to her husband's ramped up call for tougher policies against illegal immigration.

“On July 28, 2006, I was very proud to become a citizen of the United States,” she said. “The greatest privilege on planet Earth.”

The comments fit into a broader theme highlighted by other speakers during the convention’s first night that immigrants should enter the country by following the rules and waiting their turn to become citizens.

Melania Trump also tried to dispel any notion that Donald Trump would alienate minorities, saying, “Donald intends to represent all the people, not just some of the people,” which she said included Christians, Jews and Muslims, as well as Hispanics and African-Americans.

Speaking carefully from a teleprompter, Melania Trump said she’d focus on helping women and children if her husband won the election and she took the reins in the White House’s East Wing.

“If I’m honored to serve as first lady, I will use that wonderful privilege to try to help people in our country who need it the most,” she said.

Melania Trump was introduced by her husband, who arrived on stage in spectacular fashion.

Donald Trump’s silhouette appeared with a silver-blue tint as “We Are The Champions” played loudly in Quicken Loans Arena.

It was a break from recent conventions, when the nominee wouldn't speak until the last night.

But Trump surprised again by offering a brief introduction for his wife.

Hours before Melania Trump took the stage, Gallup released polling that showed her to have the worst favorable ratings of any potential first lady in the firm’s history of polling since 1992.

But the data also showed that many people have yet to form an impression of her — something she presumably hoped to change with her prime-time address Monday night.

Part of that may be from her choice to largely stay away from the campaign trail. Until Monday, she only ever made brief remarks when appearing with her husband.

Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, has often assumed the role of introducing her father at campaign events, which is typically left to the candidate’s wife. And on the final night of the convention on Thursday, Ivanka is slated to introduce her father before he delivers a speech accepting the GOP’s presidential nomination.

Three other Trump children, Donald Jr., Eric and Tiffany, are also slated to deliver speeches at the convention this week.