Wanderlust

Tag: Melania Trump

  • ‘Very violent scenes’ as a long way-proper marchers and protesters conflict in Virginia

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  • Melania Trump visits ex-slave holding facility in Ghana

    Melania Trump is visiting a former slave holding facility on the coast of Ghana on the second day of her Africa tour.

    CAPE COAST, Ghana (AP) — Melania Trump is visiting a former slave holding facility on the coast of Ghana on the second day of her Africa tour.

    The U.S. first lady on Wednesday was touring Cape Coast Castle. The 17th-century facility in the seaside town of Cape Coast was built by the Swedes to trade in timber and gold but became a place where slaves were held until they could be shipped out through a “Door of No Return.”

    Mrs. Trump says she expects the visit to be “very emotional.”

    Then-President Barack Obama and his family toured the castle in 2009. Obama said it was a reminder of “the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.”

    Mrs. Trump is touring Africa on her first extended solo international trip as first lady. She has stops planned in Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.

  • Melania Trump opens Africa tour with a wave and baby in arms

    Melania Trump opened her first big solo international trip as U.S. first lady on Tuesday with a wave, a smile and a baby in her arms, aiming to promote child welfare during a five-day tour of Africa.

    ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Melania Trump opened her first big solo international trip as U.S. first lady on Tuesday with a wave, a smile and a baby in her arms, aiming to promote child welfare during a five-day tour of Africa.

    She arrived in the West African nation of Ghana after an overnight flight from Washington and quickly made her way to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

    The first lady saw how babies are weighed — they’re placed in sacks that are then hung from a hook attached to a scale. She also watched a nurse demonstrate how vitamins are administered to babies by mouth and toured the neonatal intensive care unit.

    Mrs. Trump also cradled an infant and declared the baby a “beautiful boy” as she handed him back to his mother.

    Mothers at the hospital for her visit received gifts of teddy bears nestled in white baby blankets, personally handed out by the first lady, according to her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham. The items carried the logo of “Be Best,” the child well-being initiative Mrs. Trump launched last May.

    With the Africa visit, the first lady aims to take “Be Best” and its focus on opioid abuse and online behavior to an international audience.

    The first lady also had a private tea and gift exchange with her Ghanaian counterpart, Rebecca Akufo-Addo. They exchanged gifts: a Chippendale silver tray embossed with an image of the White House inside a leather case signed by “First Lady Melania Trump” for Akufo-Addo, and Kente cloth and artifacts for Mrs. Trump, according to Grisham.

    The first ladies met privately for about a half-hour at Jubilee House, Ghana’s presidential palace. The two first met last week in New York at a reception on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where Mrs. Trump spoke about her upcoming trip.

    Mrs. Trump’s visit opened in low-key fashion. Several Ghanaians interviewed said they knew little about it.

    “Did you say President Trump’s wife just arrived in Accra?” street vendor Awo Yeboah told the AP. “l don’t think l have ever heard her name, Melania.” Other locals said they knew about the visit but didn’t know what Mrs. Trump was doing.

    Mrs. Trump landed in the capital of Accra on Tuesday morning after a more than 12-hour journey from Washington. She was welcomed at the airport with dancing and drumming, schoolchildren waving mini U.S. and Ghanaian flags and the gift of a flower bouquet.

    Akufo-Addo was at the airport to welcome her. Mrs. Trump also plans to visit Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.

  • John McCain’s farewell commentary to American Citizens

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  • Melania Trump: The Weird, traditional candidate for first woman

    This file photo taken on June 06, 2016 shows Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, listening as her husband delivers remarks at Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, New York.Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Melania Trump has in large part prompt away from discussing politics all the way through her husband’s campaign.

    In 1998, Donald Trump, already fabulously wealthy and charismatic but possessed of a nonetheless ordinary-looking head of hair, used to be most likely used to getting a telephone quantity when he asked.

    but when the valuables mogul attempted it on that yr with a tender style, at a celebration in Big Apple, he could not quite close the deal. “i am now not providing you with my number,” countered 28-year-old Melania Knavs. “You supply me yours, and that i will name you.”

    Speedy-ahead seven years and the pair tied the knot in a celeb-studded bash at his Florida estate. Speedy-forward again and Mrs Trump is a candidate to transform the next First Lady of the United States Of America. But who’s she?

    A ‘traditional’ First Woman

    Glamorous and entirely devoted to her husband and his success, Mrs Trump has been cast as a sort of retro presidential partner, a modern-day Jackie Kennedy. Like The former Mrs Kennedy, Mrs Trump, now 46, speaks 4 languages: Slovenian, French, German, and English.

    Whilst Mr Trump first hinted at tilting for the highest office, in 1999, she instructed journalists: “i’d be very traditional, like Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy.”

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Mrs Trump’s convention speech was overshadowed by way of accusations of plagiarism.

    Earlier this year, a lewd phone interview with Mr and Mrs Trump by way of surprise-jock radio presenter Howard Stern resurfaced, by which Mr Stern quizzed Mrs Trump about what she was once wearing (“nearly nothing”) and how often she had sex with Mr Trump (“each and every night, sometimes extra”), and described her to Mr Trump as “that large on your mattress”.

    The interview brought about accusations of misogyny.

    Now Mrs Trump is suing the Day-To-Day Mail and a US blogger for $150m (£114m), her lawyer says, over articles she claims infer that she used to be a intercourse worker in the nineteen nineties. Both the blogger and the Day-To-Day Mail have retracted their articles.

    Mrs Trump has used her social media money owed to hit again and her remedy has been compared through some commentators to “slut-shaming” – the apply of attacking women over certain techniques of dressing or acting.

    From Slovenia to Big Apple

    Mrs Trump was once born Melanija Knavs in Sevnica, a small the city approximately an hour’s pressure from Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana, to a comparatively well-off circle of relatives. Her father Viktor labored for the mayor of local Hrastnik ahead of changing into a a success automotive salesman. Her mother, Amalija, designed prints for a manner emblem.

    Melania studied layout and structure in Ljubljana. It was once claimed on her skilled web page that she held a degree, however later emerged that she dropped out all the way through her first year. the website has now been scrubbed fully and redirects to Mr Trump’s business site.

    At 18, she signed with a modelling agency in Milan and commenced flying round Europe and the united states, appearing in high-profile advert campaigns. It was at a party at Ny Style week that she met Mr Trump.

    Like her husband, she by no means beverages, in keeping with stories, and shies away from late-night parties. She has her personal branded jewellery industry and is reportedly concerned within the layout process.

    Symbol copyright AP Image caption Melania and Donald Trump have a son, Barron

    The pair married in 2005 and had a son, Barron, in 2011. Her oldsters spend a vital amount of time in Big Apple, serving to maintain Barron, though they do not discuss English, in step with reviews.

    Mrs Trump has it sounds as if squared her background with her husband’s attacks on immigration – declaring that she did everything by means of the e-book.

    “It by no means crossed my mind to stay right here with out papers,” she informed Harpers Bazaar. “You follow the foundations. You apply the legislation. Each And Every few months you want to fly back to Europe and stamp your visa.”

    ‘Policies are my husband’s job’

    Mrs Trump has largely advised clear of the political fray, confining her appearances to standing by means of her husband’s aspect. “I selected to not go into politics and policy,” she stated in an interview with GQ. “The Ones policies are my husband’s job.”

    Her one massive second of the campaign came whilst she took centre stage at the first day of the Republican National Conference in July for the normal spousal speech, and it did not move well.

    Commentators temporarily noticed remarkable similarities with Michelle Obama’s convention speech in 2008, and the following plagiarism scandal overshadowed what she had to say.

    Mrs Trump’s lawsuit against the Day By Day Mail has put her in the highlight again, but she remains something of an unknown quantity when put next with her predecessors. She does recommend her husband, she instructed GQ, but she continues to be tight-lipped about it what she says.

    “No Person is aware of and no-one will ever recognise,” she stated. “As A Result Of that’s among me and my husband.”

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  • Trump pushes allies for fast military spending build up

    July 11 (UPI) — Trump on Wednesday called for NATO members to greater than double their security spending, meeting a 10-year goal years sooner than deadline.

    “What just right is NATO if Germany is paying Russia billions of bucks for gas and energy? Why are there handiest 5 out of 29 countries that experience met their dedication?” Trump tweeted. “The U.S. is procuring Europe’s coverage, then loses billions on Business. Will Have To pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025.”

    In 2014, NATO individuals agreed to move toward spending 2 p.c in their gross family product on defense through 2024.

    in the course of the president’s feedback, he urged countries not just meet their minimal commitment of 2 p.c but building up it to 4 %, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary mentioned in a press release.

    Despite the demands, Trump joined the other 28 heads of state and signed the NATO statement, which displays current commitments.

    Trump began the NATO summit Wednesday with criticism, announcing sure Western countries want to spend more on defense and calling Germany a “captive” of Russia.

    Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Belgium Tuesday for the summit, ahead of meetings later this week with British High Minister Theresa May in Britain and Vladimir Putin in Finland.

    Trump’s complaint concerned international locations he stated aren’t spending sufficient on their very own defenses in trade for NATO coverage. The America will pay approximately 67 % of its gross domestic product on security, more than every other country, even supposing only 3.5 p.c is NATO-similar. The group is calling all member states spend a minimum 2 % of their GDP on defensive measures through 2024.

    “many countries aren’t paying what they should, and, frankly, many countries owe us a big amount of cash from many years back,” Trump mentioned at a breakfast assembly with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “They’re delinquent, as a ways as I’m concerned, since the U.s. has needed to pay for them.”

    Even As answering questions from newshounds earlier than the breakfast, Trump drew contrasts among his exhausting stance on NATO and the positions of his predecessors.

    “This has long past on for many presidents. However no different president brought it up like I deliver it up … it is an unfair burden on the United States Of America.”

    Stoltenberg agreed there need to be more performed to prompt allies to speculate extra of their safeguard. He credited Trump, saying NATO countries are making an investment extra on safety as a result of his management.

    Germany at this time spends approximately 1.2 percent on security.

    “you realize, we’re protecting Germany, we’re protective France. We Are protective everyone … this has been occurring for decades,” Trump said. “This has been cited via different presidents. But different presidents never did the rest approximately it because i do not assume they understood it or they just didn’t want to get entangled.”

    Trump also criticized Germany for its use of Russian fuel. The United States Of America spends heavily to defend Germany from Russia, he stated, at the same time as Germany is paying “billions and billions of greenbacks a year to Russia.”

    “How can you be in combination while a rustic is getting its power from the rustic you need protection towards?” Trump asked. “i feel it’s one thing that NATO has to appear at.”

    Stoltenberg said NATO, in spite of a few differences of opinion among member states, is getting stronger.

    “a strong NATO is good for Europe and additionally it is excellent for the United States Of America,” he advised Trump. “we look forward to the assembly you’re going to have with President Putin. And i believe that leaders are also taking a look ahead for your feelings about the assembly with President Putin afterward.”

    German Protection Minister Ursula von der Leyen pushed aside Trump’s comments, saying Germany is not captive to Russia and the rustic can take Trump’s criticisms in stride.

    “i believe we can take care of it,” von der Leyen mentioned. “If we look at the gasoline pipeline, Germany is an impartial usa. Where power provide is anxious, we diversify, but the major overarching subject is the summit — we would like a summit that sends out the message of solidarity.”

    The security minister agreed with Trump about safety spending.

    “we are making an investment heavily within the German defense force and other Ecu countries too, for the reason that military want it … So we advanced so much however there’s nonetheless paintings to be done. On that time the yankee buddies have some degree,” von der Leyen stated.

    Later, Trump met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who he said he has a “very, excellent dating” with. He instructed her he believes U.S.-German industry increases.

    Merkel, who didn’t deal with Trump’s earlier comments, stated she was “very happy” find a way to talk about issues like economic development, migration and trade.

    Trump leaves for London Thursday for a state dinner and seek advice from with Would Possibly, and later Queen Elizabeth II. From there, he travels to Helsinki, Finland, for Monday’s summit with the Kremlin chief. he’s going to go back to Washington, D.C., early Tuesday.

  • Trump-Putin summit: US president beneath hearth over poll meddling feedback

    Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump @realDonaldTrump Symbol Copyright @SenSchumer @SenSchumer Symbol Copyright @ABCPolitics @ABCPolitics

    After Helsinki, the fallout at home

    Analysis by BBC North The Us reporter Anthony Zurcher

    With no tangible effects from the summit, the two leaders are framing this because the first of many meetings to come

    Given the american response from around the political spectrum, alternatively, long run conferences could also be difficult to pull off.

    After a week out of the country, Mr Trump on Monday added the coup de grace for what has been a highly disruptive week in US foreign affairs.

    European allies are uneasy. US-Russia family members are uncertain. And the us political international – and even the White House’s personal communications workforce – is unsettled.

    Read extra from Anthony

    Mr Putin defined the Helsinki assembly as “candid and useful” while Mr Trump stated there had been “deeply productive discussion”.

    Mr Trump mentioned US-Russia members of the family had “never been worse” than before they met, however that had now changed.

    Relations between Russia and the West have been severely strained via Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia’s strengthen for separatists in jap Ukraine.

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  • Trump and Putin’s landmark assembly

    Live Trump and Putin summit

  • First lady returns to White House after kidney treatment

    Melania Trump is back at the White House after an extended hospitalization for a kidney procedure.

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is back at the White House after an extended hospitalization for a kidney procedure.

    The White House says the first lady returned to the White House on Saturday morning. She had been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington since having an embolization procedure Monday for an unspecified kidney condition that the White House said was benign.

    President Donald Trump visited his 48-year-old wife during several of the evenings that she was in the hospital.

    The first lady said Wednesday on Twitter that she was “feeling great.” She thanked the Walter Reed staff and her well-wishers, and added that she was looking forward to going home.

  • Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron state visit to focus on Iran nuclear deal

    President Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday for the administration’s first state visit, cementing the close alliance between the two countries with a whirlwind of events that i

    President Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday for the administration’s first state visit, cementing the close alliance between the two countries with a whirlwind of events that include a Marine One helicopter tour of Washington and a private dinner at Mount Vernon.

    On the business side of visit, Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron will broach trade and military issues, including the touchy subject of the Iran nuclear deal in which the two men take opposite views.

    Mr. Trump wants to scuttle the Obama-era agreement with Iran, and he could move to withdraw the U.S. as soon as next month. Mr. Macron has urged Mr. Trump to reconsider.

    “The president has been extremely clear that he thinks it is a bad deal. That certainly hasn’t changed,” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

    Still, she said the president would listen to arguments for how the deal could be improved to benefit the American people.

    In New York City on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said it’s up to the European signatories of the nuclear deal to convince President Trump not to exit the controversial accord.

    “It is either all or nothing,” Mr. Zarif tweeted. “European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith.”

    Mr. Zarif’s comments followed vows from other Iranian officials to “shred” the nuclear agreement if Washington withdraws.

    On Tuesday night, Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump will host the French president and his wife, Bridgette Macron, at his presidency’s first state dinner. The main course will be rack of spring lamb, and the entertainment will be a performance by the Washington National Opera from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to the White House.

    “This visit will celebrate the long and enduring friendship between France and the U.S.,” said Mrs. Sanders.

    Mr. Trump waited longer than many of his predecessors to host a state visit. He is the first president since Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s to finish his first year in office without one.

    Although they appear to be political opposites, Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron made fast friends when they met at a NATO summit. The bond grew stronger when Mr. Macron hosted Mr. Trump in Paris for Bastille Day.

    “They are not such an odd couple when you scratch the surface,” said Michael C. Desch, director of the Notre Dame International Security Center.

    He referred to Mr. Trump as a Francophile.

    “At least in terms of the pomp and circumstance of French governmental ceremonies. Remember that it was at a Bastille Day parade that the president got the idea for a military parade here,” said Mr. Desch. “Also, they share a surprising number of similarities, both personal, both political outsiders and businessmen, to substantive: Syria and the war on ISIS.”

    For the state dinner, Mr. Trump broke with tradition by not inviting journalists or any Democratic members of Congress.

    He also is hosting a smaller gathering than the White House soirees thrown by his predecessor.

    Mr. Trump has about 150 guests on the list. The guests at President Obama’s state dinners numbered in the hundreds, which required a huge tent on the South Lawn because there wasn’t a room large enough inside the White House to accommodate so many people.

    Mr. Obama’s first state dinner was for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and featured vegetarian food. The event was marred by party crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi, winemakers from Virginia who were angling for a spot on the reality TV show “Real Housewives of D.C.”

    The couple’s ability to crash the state dinner, including getting photos with Vice President Joseph R. Biden, prompted a Secret Service security review and led to the resignation of White House social secretary Desiree Rogers.

    Mr. Obama and President Clinton held their first state dinners in November of their first year in office. President George W. Bush had his in September of his first year.

    In their eight years as president, Mr. Obama and Mr. Bush hosted 13 state dinners. Mr. Clinton threw 28 state dinners.

    Mrs. Trump, who is responsible for organizing nearly every detail of the visit and the grand state dinner, has spent months planning events for the Macrons’ three-day visit to the capital.

    “The menu will be a showcase of the best of America’s cuisines and traditions, with nuances of French influences prepared by the renowned White House Executive Chef, Christeta Comerford,” the White House said in a statement outlining details of the state visit and dinner.

    The first course at the state dinner will be goat cheese gateau, tomato jam, buttermilk biscuit crumbles and young variegated lettuces. The main course includes rack of spring lamb, burnt cipollini soubise and Carolina gold rice jambalaya.

    Dessert will be nectarine tart and creme fraiche ice cream.

    “The wines were selected to complement the menu and embody the historic friendship between the United States and France, which dates back to the American Revolution,” said the White House.

    Mr. Trump does not drink alcohol, but Mr. Macron, who has a reputation for following a strict diet, is known to drink wine for lunch and dinner.

    The wines for the state dinner include Domaine Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve from 2015, which is the product of American and French collaboration. The wine was aged in 40 percent French oak barrels for more than 12 months, according to the White House.