Melania Trump and Usha Vance set out on Wednesday on their first official trip together, traveling to North Carolina to visit service members and their families as the holidays draw near.
According to The Associated Press, the wives of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were scheduled to meet with Marines and their families at Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast, as well as Marine Corps Air Station New River.
The day’s itinerary included joint appearances with military-connected students and remarks from both women to a gathering of service members and their loved ones, according to the president’s office
In her prepared comments, the first lady was expected to recognize the Marine Corps’ 250 years of service and offer her gratitude to Marines and their families, especially during a season that can be difficult for those separated by deployment.
She was also set to address another issue she has been focusing on: the fast-changing landscape of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The visit came just one night after both women attended the first formal White House dinner of Trump’s second administration, a black-tie event organized by the first lady to honor Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Melania Trump and Usha Vance have appeared together at several major events this year. They stood together at the January inauguration and later attended a White House celebration of military mothers and a luncheon for Senate spouses in May.
They also shared the stage at the opening night of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center in June and joined the president last week as he signed an executive order to help foster children — a key part of the first lady’s Fostering the Future program under her Be Best initiative.
Melania Trump has kept her work centered on children’s well-being. Her Be Best program, launched during her husband’s first term, focuses on children’s welfare, online safety, and opioid abuse.
Last month, she announced that eight children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war had been reunited with their families following conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier in the year, she helped push Congress to pass legislation imposing federal penalties for online sexual exploitation, which often targets young girls. President Trump signed the bill into law in May.
Usha Vance, a former lawyer, has begun carving out her own role as second lady. She recently launched a “Summer Reading Challenge” urging kindergarten through eighth-grade students to read 12 books over their break, offering certificates and prizes for those who finish.
She frequently accompanies the vice president on official travel and often brings along their three young children.
