Melania Trump and Usha Vance to Visit NC Military Families/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Melania Trump and Usha Vance visited Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River in North Carolina to honor military families ahead of the holidays. Their trip included student meetups, remarks on service and sacrifice, and advocacy for tech and family initiatives. This marks their latest public collaboration following multiple joint appearances in 2025.
Military Family Support Quick Looks
- Melania Trump and Usha Vance traveled to North Carolina together.
- Visited Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River.
- Praised service members and military families as holidays near.
- Melania celebrated the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
- She also highlighted concerns around artificial intelligence.
- The visit followed a White House dinner for MBS.
- Both women have appeared together at events throughout 2025.
- Initiatives like “Be Best” and “Summer Reading Challenge” were spotlighted.
Deep Look: Melania Trump and Usha Vance Visit North Carolina Military Families for the Holidays
WASHINGTON (AP) — First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance embarked on their first joint trip on Wednesday, visiting military installations in North Carolina to express gratitude toward service members and their families as the holiday season approaches.
The two women made stops at Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast, and Marine Corps Air Station New River, meeting with active-duty personnel, military-connected students, and family members. The visit served both as a show of appreciation and a celebration of ongoing initiatives supporting military and family welfare.
According to the First Lady’s office, the day’s events included appearances with schoolchildren from military families, and both women were scheduled to deliver remarks at a larger gathering of Marines and their loved ones. Melania Trump was expected to pay tribute to the Marine Corps’ 250 years of service, acknowledging the branch’s enduring legacy while emphasizing the often-overlooked sacrifices made by military families during the holidays.
Beyond commemorating military service, the first lady also turned her attention to an increasingly urgent concern: the rapid evolution of technology, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. This reflects a newer focus within her broader Be Best initiative, which since its inception has centered on children’s well-being, online safety, and prevention of opioid abuse.
Their visit to North Carolina came just one day after both women attended the first formal White House dinner of Donald Trump’s second term in office. That event, held in the East Room and organized by Melania Trump, honored Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and marked a high-profile diplomatic moment for the administration.
While this was their first joint out-of-town engagement, Melania and Usha Vance have appeared together several times over the past year. Notable occasions included their attendance at the 2025 presidential inauguration, a White House military mothers’ celebration, a Senate spouses luncheon, opening night of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center, and the signing of an executive order in support of foster children—an initiative tied to the First Lady’s Fostering the Future program.
Melania Trump’s advocacy has remained focused on children’s issues, continuing her work from the Trump administration’s first term. In recent months, she helped reunite eight children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war with their families through diplomatic conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier in the year, she helped push for and celebrate the passage of a federal law imposing stricter penalties for online sexual exploitation, particularly protecting young girls. President Trump signed the legislation in May, citing her persistent lobbying efforts.
Second Lady Usha Vance, for her part, has begun carving out her own portfolio of child-focused initiatives. A former lawyer and mother of three, she recently launched a “Summer Reading Challenge” aimed at encouraging literacy among kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Children who completed the 12-book challenge were awarded certificates and prizes, adding a fun, goal-oriented aspect to educational growth.
Known for frequently joining her husband, Vice President JD Vance, on official trips, Usha Vance’s presence on this North Carolina visit further elevated her role as a visible advocate for military and family issues within the administration.
Their joint appearance in North Carolina underscores a renewed focus by the White House on highlighting support for the military community. As the nation heads into the holiday season, Melania Trump and Usha Vance’s trip served as both a symbolic and practical reminder of the enduring contributions and sacrifices made by American service members and their families.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.