Trump draws alongside children in Ohio hospital as he and Melania put on a united front

Donald Trump escaped his troubles in Washington during a visit to a children’s hospital in Ohio with Melania, as special counsel Robert Mueller’s net closes in.  

The president and first lady put on a united front Friday following the most challenging week of Trump’s presidency.

The Trumps toured the neonatal intensive care unit of an Ohio children’s hospital that treats babies affected by the opioid epidemic. The opioid crisis, which claims the lives of tens of thousands of people a year, has been a key focus for Trump. 

Donald Trump escaped his troubles in Washington during a visit to a children’s hospital in Ohio with Melania, as special counsel Robert Mueller’s net closes in

Trump sat with slightly older children as they colored pictures of American flags and hearts with red, white and blue

Trump sat with slightly older children as they colored pictures of American flags and hearts with red, white and blue

The president and first lady joined the children as they colored and praised their work 

The president and first lady joined the children as they colored and praised their work 

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump sit with children during a tour Nationwide Children's Hospital on August 24,  in Columbus, Ohio

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump sit with children during a tour Nationwide Children’s Hospital on August 24,  in Columbus, Ohio

Melania and Trump, accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, visited the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus before attending a fundraiser and delivering the keynote address at the Ohio Republican Party’s state dinner. 

After touring the medical unit, Trump sat with slightly older children as they colored pictures of American flags and hearts with red, white and blue. He appeared to be concentrating intensely as he colored his flag, before telling the kids they were doing a ‘great job.’

Trump last visited Ohio on August 4 to rally for U.S. House candidate Troy Balderson, a GOP state senator.  Balderson was certified Friday as the winner of a special election to fill the unexpired term of longtime Republican congressman Pat Tiberi, who retired in January. 

Trump's trip to Ohio may be a welcome diversion from a difficult week as two of his closest aides, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former lawyer Michael Cohen were convicted of serious crimes

Trump’s trip to Ohio may be a welcome diversion from a difficult week as two of his closest aides, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former lawyer Michael Cohen were convicted of serious crimes

But they appeared to leave their worries behind on the trip to the hospital in Columbus, Ohio

But they appeared to leave their worries behind on the trip to the hospital in Columbus, Ohio

Trump’s trip to Ohio may be a welcome diversion from a difficult week as two of his closest aides, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former lawyer Michael Cohen were convicted of serious crimes.

Manafort was found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud, while Cohen admitted campaign finance violations over hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal during the 2016 election. 

His guilty plea also implicated Trump, while Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis, said that his client also had information about the Trump Foundation. 

First lady Melania Trump smiled as she walked into the Nationwide Children's Hospital, Friday, August 24 

First lady Melania Trump smiled as she walked into the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Friday, August 24 

The first lady war a white skirt suit, with matching white heels and a black and white polka dot blouse

The first lady war a white skirt suit, with matching white heels and a black and white polka dot blouse

Melania Trump met one of the children at the hospital, while White House counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway looked on

Melania Trump met one of the children at the hospital, while White House counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway looked on

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit the Nationwide Children's Hospital, Friday

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Friday

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway sits with children while US President Donald Trump and US first lady Melania Trump toured Nationwide Children's Hospital 

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway sits with children while US President Donald Trump and US first lady Melania Trump toured Nationwide Children’s Hospital 

On Friday, the world learned Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg got an immunity deal in a move that does not bode well for Trump. 

 Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, is both a bookkeeper and a key executive running the organization who is familiar with major aspects of the organization. 

News of Weisselberg’s immunity deal comes a day after it was revealed American Media Inc. publisher David Pecker received immunity. Pecker’s firm paid McDougal $150,000 and promised magazine covers and work in exchange for the ‘life rights’ of her story about an affair with a married man.

Although Cohen himself has no known cooperation agreement with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to eight counts and said he was ‘directed’ by an individual (Trump) to violate campaign finance laws. Trump has taken to calling his longtime lawyer a ‘RAT,’ while praising convicted former campaign chair Paul Manafort for not ‘breaking’ under pressure. A Virginia jury convicted Manafort on eight counts this week.

Melania and Donald Trumo later took a tour through the hospital wards at the hospital that treats babies affected by the opioid epidemic

Melania and Donald Trumo later took a tour through the hospital wards at the hospital that treats babies affected by the opioid epidemic

Melania and Trump, accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, visited the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus before attending a fundraiser and delivering the keynote address at the Ohio Republican Party's state dinner

Melania and Trump, accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, visited the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus before attending a fundraiser and delivering the keynote address at the Ohio Republican Party’s state dinner

The first couple spoke to staff at the Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio during their Friday trip

The first couple spoke to staff at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio during their Friday trip

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their departure from the White House August 24, 2018 in Washington, DC on a day it was revealed the CFO of the Trump Orgnanization was granted immunity by prosecutors

LET’S GET OUT OF HERE: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their departure from the White House August 24, 2018 in Washington, DC on a day it was revealed the CFO of the Trump Orgnanization was granted immunity by prosecutors

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