It has been rather a busy few days for President Donald Trump and the First Lady – yet Melania showed no signs of tiredness as she happily joined a group of young children for an afternoon of fun during a visit to a Maryland Air Force base.
The 47-year-old mother-of-one spent some time meeting with the youngsters after traveling to Joint Base Andrews with her husband on Friday, during which she also addressed members of the military.
Melania couldn’t have looked more thrilled about her afternoon of fun, and smiled happily as she sat down with the children, chatted with them, colored with crayons, and even tried her hand at making and flying some paper planes.
Say cheese! Melania Trump beamed with delight as she visited the children of US Air Force members at Joint Base Andrews on Friday afternoon
Fun: The 47-year-old met with the kids at the base’s youth center, where she spent time playing with them and chatting
Thrilled to meet you: Many of the children took the chance to have a personal one-on-one chat with the First Lady
Hello there! Melania wore a chic military-inspired jacket for her visit, which she paired with beige cigarette pants
The First Lady looked incredibly chic in a military-inspired khaki jacket and beige cigarette pants, although the outfit was a far cry from the glamorous ensemble she had worn just hours before in order to attend a dinner and reception at the White House.
Upon arrival at the Air Force base, Melania headed straight to the youth center to meet with the kids, greeting them all with a big smile as she was escorted into the room by a secret service agent.
Wasting little time, she got stuck straight into the fun, sitting with the children, introducing herself with a smile, and then helping them with their arts and crafts – including some paper airplane building and testing.
Melania looked to be quite the expert when it came to constructing the paper crafts, and showed off her prowess by throwing a pink plane up into the air while the children looked on.
She was also pictured sitting with several of the children and helping them with their own personal projects, from constructing Lego creations, to picking out the perfect color of crayon for their drawing.
After her visit to the youth center, Melania joined the President in a hangar at the Air Force base, where the pair both stood on stage to address members of the military.
Up and away! The mother-of-one also showed off her paper airplane building skills, showing the kids how it is done as she launched her creation into the air
Helping hand: As well as arts and crafts, Melania also tried her hand at Lego building
Beauty: Melania looked in top form for the event, wearing her brunette locks in loose waves around her shoulders, while modeling a smokey eye and nude lip
Pick a color, any color: At one point, she helped a little girl pick out the perfect shade of pink
Pictures show her standing at a podium in front of a crowd of people – including her daughter-in-law Ivanka, 35, her husband Jared, 36, and their son Joseph, three, who happily perched on his mother’s lap while they sat on the front row of the audience.
Ivanka, Jared, and Joseph entered the hangar first to much fanfare from the military band, with the First Daughter holding her young son by the hand as they were escorted in by a member of the military.
The trio was followed soon after by Melania and Donald, who made their way straight onto the stage in order to address the waiting crowds.
Melania headed straight to the podium in order to introduce her husband, taking the time to thank the ‘brave men and women who wear the noble uniform of the US Air Force’ for welcoming them to the base.
‘I had the privilege to visit with some of your wonderful children at the youth center here on base,’ she said. ‘I enjoyed our time together, getting to know them, and I want to thank everyone who helped to make this visit possible.
‘Every child whose parent serves in our great military should be enormously proud because your mom or dad is a true American hero. In the wake of two devastating hurricanes, the world has witnessed your courage and compassion, and you have made every American proud.’
Passing the torch: Melania took to the stage at the Air Force base to introduce her husband, and to thank the members of the military for their service
Promises: She vowed to the gathered crowds of Air Force members that their sacrifices ‘do not go unnoticed or unappreciated’
Family: She was joined at the event by her daughter-in-law Ivanka Trump, 35, her husband Jared, 36, and their three-year-old son Joseph
Earlier that day… Melania and President Trump put on a united front as they made their way out of the White House and onto Marine One
Joyous: Looking every inch the happy couple, both of them waved and smiled for the cameras as they made their way to the waiting helicopter
Offering support: At one point, President Trump put a reassuring hand on his wife’s back as he leaned in to speak to her
She then went on to express gratitude on behalf of the American people to those serving in the Air Force, praising the ‘trust’ that the country has in its military.
‘We know you will never quit, you will never yield, and you will never fail,’ she said, before offering thanks on behalf of herself and her husband personally both to those currently serving, and to their families.
‘Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed or unappreciated,’ she promised.
Earlier in the day, Donald and Melania were pictured leaving the White House together, crossing the lawn in order to board Marine One, and looking every inch the happy couple, with both smiling and waving at the cameras as they made their way to the waiting helicopter.
At one point, Donald put a protective hand on his wife’s back, as he leaned in to speak to her, no doubt having to raise his voice to be heard over the sound of the helicopter engines.
Melania’s passionate speech came less than 24 hours after she put on an incredibly glamorous display as she joined her husband in hosting a black-tie dinner at the White House.
Elegant: On Thursday night, Melania looked incredibly glamorous in an $8,000 Monique Lhuillier dress as she joined her husband President Trump at a White House dinner
Romantic! She looked thrilled to be in attendance at the event, and took to the stage at one point to address the guests, kissing her husband as he introduced her
Stunning: Melania’s silver dress featured a slip-style dress under a sheer chiffon-and-sequin overlay that fell all the way to the ground
Flattering: The dress was cinched in at the waist with a black ribbon, helping to accentuate Melania’s fabulous figure
She looked a world away from the incredibly casual figure she had cut earlier in the day when she visited hurricane-hit areas of Florida earlier in the day, when she opted to wear jeans, a baggy shirt and $50 Converse sneakers, donning an $8,000 Monique Lhuillier gown for the White House Historical Association dinner and reception.
Standing alongside her husband as he took to the stage to welcome guests to the decadent evening event, Melania was the picture of style in the sparkling silver design, which featured a simple slip-style floor length dress underneath a sheer chiffon-and-sequin overlay which fell all the way down to the floor.
The dress was cinched in at the waist with a black ribbon-style belt, helping to accentuate the First Lady’s fabulous figure.
Melania wore her long brunette locks in loose waves around her shoulders, while her make-up was kept very subtle – just a simple smokey eye, bronzed cheeks and a pink glossy lip.
Mother-of-one Melania looked absolutely thrilled to be at the event, and was pictured beaming with joy as her husband took to the stage to introduce her, before she took to the podium herself to address the guests.
It has been a busy day for the President and the First Lady, who traveled from the White House to Fort Myers, Florida, early on Thursday morning in order to meet with locals who have been impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma.
Happy couple: Melania beamed with joy as she took to the stage alongside her husband
Fighting spirit: Melania praised the country’s ‘unwavering commitment to overcome, to rebuild, and to renew what was swept away’
Melania took the chance to pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of the people she met while addressing guests at the dinner, praising the ‘unwavering commitment to overcome and rebuild’.
She noted that in both Florida and Texas she and her husband met ‘so many who lost so much’.
However the First Lady added that ‘the true spirit of this nation: an unwavering commitment to overcome, to rebuild, and to renew what was swept away’.
‘Together, we all hurt with these victims. And together we vow to lift our neighborhoods from the deepest of despair.’
Meanwhile her husband took his moment on stage as an opportunity to praise the White House as ‘a place that I’ve grown to love and respect’ – less than one month after the historical building underwent an intense two-week renovation.
The overhaul was completed not long after the President allegedly made a remark about the White House being a ‘dump’ to patrons at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in July.
Switching it up! Melania cut a much more casual figure when she joined her husband in Florida earlier in the day, when they met with victims of Hurricane Irma
Casual Thursday: The 47-year-old threw on a button-up shirt and white jeans before stepping onto the tarmac at the airport
Casual accessories: Melania topped off her outfit with a white baseball cap and $50 Converse sneakers
Saying hello: The couple was greeted by Florida Governor Rick Scott upon their arrival at Southwest Florida International Airport
However, in August he denied that claim, saying on Twitter: ‘I love the White House, one of the most beautiful buildings (homes) I have ever seen. But Fake News said I called it a dump – TOTALLY UNTRUE.’
Trump was certainly full of praise for the White House on Thursday evening, describing the building as a ‘house like no other’ that conjures ‘beauty’, ‘warmth’, ‘power’ and sometimes ‘coldness’.
Like his wife, the President also touched on the hurricane recovery efforts in Florida, and says authorities there have done an ‘A-plus job’.
The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit association founded in the early 1960s by Jacqueline Kennedy to preserve and provide public access to the White House.
The group’s president, Stewart D. McLaurin, says it is ‘pleased to be honored by the White House for the work we undertake’.
Earlier in the day, Melania put on a much more casual display as she traveled to Florida to visit hurricane victims alongside her husband, even undergoing an outfit change while on-board Air Force One.
Bird’s eye view: Melania shared a video of her view as they toured the hurricane damage from the air
Showing support: The group traveled to Naples where they walked through the streets, assessing the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma
Keeping cool: Melania looked comfortable despite the rising temperatures and humidity in Naples
Melania, who was labeled out of touch and disrespectful when she donned stilettos to visit hurricane victims in Houston, appeared to have sworn off high heels for her trip to meet with citizens who have been impacted by Hurricane Irma.
After wearing $750 black and beige Chanel flats to board Air Force One with President Donald Trump on Thursday morning, Melania changed into a casual button-up shirt, white skinny jeans, and $50 Converse sneakers.
Her olive green top was tucked into her jeans, which were cropped to show off her Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers.
Melania shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of aviator sunglasses, and she even threw her hair up into a ponytail, topping of her look with a crisp white baseball cap.
She also opted to leave her black Hermes Birkin, which retails at a whopping $11,900 to $12,200, on the aircraft.
The first lady was photographed stepping off Air Force One at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers with her husband, and Trump was dressed just as casually in khaki pants, a windbreaker, and a USA cap on his head.
All smiles: Trump, Melania, and Pence also posed for a selfie with a woman in Naples
Back home: Melania had a bright smile on her face as she and her husband returned to the White House later that day
Accessories: Melania wore black and beige Chanel flats as she flew from Washington, D.C. to Fort Myers, Florida with her husband this morning
The couple was greeted by Florida Governor Rick Scott upon their arrival, and she stood by Trump’s side as they listened to the governor speak during a briefing on Hurricane Irma at the airport.
After the briefing, the president, vice president, and first lady, set off to Naples to meet with people who have been impacted by Hurricane Irma.
Melania took to Twitter to share footage of Naples during an air tour of the damage.
‘Before touching down in Naples, air tour of hurricane damage. There is much work to be done, but America is with you Florida!’ she wrote.
The group was photographed walking through the city’s streets as they assessed the devastation caused by the hurricane.
They then went on to help serve food to people who were affected by the storm, passing out sandwiches and water bottles to those in need.