Melania Trump's Visit To Iraq Marks The First Time That A 'First Lady' Has Traveled To An Active Combat Zone

President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas. pic.twitter.com/s2hntnRwpw

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 26, 2018

WNU Editor: A WNU reader sent me in this post ..... Melania Trump mocked for wearing Timberland boots while visiting troops (Yahoo News). She pointed out this paragraph ....

.... For the visit, which was unscheduled, Melania broke first lady precedent by travelling to an active combat zone. To take selfies with soldiers and speak military members, FLOTUS wore a suede mustard belted blouse with dark green trousers.

I did some research .... and yes .... this is the first time a "First Lady" has traveled to an active combat zone. You would think that would be the headline, and not mocking her boots.

Melania Trump Makes First Lady History With Ride In A V-22 Osprey

We are off to visit some of our brave men & women in uniform today & thank them for their service. I’ll be visiting Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Joint Base Langley-Eustis & the #USSGeorgeHWBush aircraft carrier today. Looking forward to meeting everyone! #USA pic.twitter.com/XrYsFyItJJ

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 12, 2018

An incredible day spending time with our men and women in uniform on USS George H.W. Bush. Thank you for your sacrifice & service! #USA pic.twitter.com/WWncNQfiMj

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 13, 2018

CNN: Melania Trump makes historic Osprey flight to visit US military

(CNN)Melania Trump spent part of Wednesday flying over areas of Virginia and the Atlantic Ocean in a V-22 Osprey, becoming the first first lady to do so.

The Osprey is a massive military flight machine that can fly longer ranges like a plane while also having the ability to land and take off like a helicopter, a maneuver that came in handy when Trump paid a visit to the USS George H.W. Bush, the Navy's 1,092-foot long warship, which is powered by two nuclear reactors.

rump's appearance on the aircraft carrier was the last of three military-themed events in which the first lady took part in the span of about five hours, first to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, outside of Washington, where she boarded the V-22, and then on to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, in Hampton, Virginia, for a tour and a meet-and-greet with military families.

"When preparing for this stop, I learned that this base is more than 100 years old, and has a long history of excellence," said Trump in prepared remarks to the approximately 600 servicemembers at Langley-Eustis.

Read more ....

More News On Melania Trump Making First Lady History With Ride In A V-22 Osprey

Melania Trump Makes First Lady History With Ride in Osprey -- US News and World Report/AP
'I speak on behalf of my husband when I tell you we are forever grateful for your service': Melania touts Trump's love of troops in series of appearances with military - and posts a military hat selfie -- Daily Mail
Melania Trump high-fives schoolchildren, thanks military families at Langley Air Force Base -- Virginia Pilot
Melania Trump arrives in style at military base in Osprey aircraft -- Independent.ie

Everyone Wants A Selfie With Her

The first lady got a warm welcome from the service members

WNU Editor: If given a choice on having a selfie with her or her husband, I would choose her. :)

The above picture came from this news story .... 'I speak on behalf of my husband when I tell you we are forever grateful for your service': Melania touts Trump's love of troops in series of appearances with military - and posts a military hat selfie (Daily Mail).

Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel Removed From Her Post On The Insistance Of The First Lady

CNN: Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel forced out of White House

(CNN)The White House, after a day of uncertainty, confirmed Wednesday that deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel is leaving her position after first lady Melania Trump's office issued an unprecedented public statement calling for her ouster.

In a statement, press secretary Sarah Sanders said, "Mira Ricardel will continue to support the President as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the Administration. The President is grateful for Ms. Ricardel's continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities."

Multiple West Wing officials were unable to say where she is going -- because they do not know. Two officials raised the possibility that the White House has not determined where Ricardel will go yet.

An additional senior official confirmed today was Ricardel's last day at NSC, and she won't be finishing out the week in her old post.

Read more ....

Previous Post: U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel Has Been Fired and Escorted From The White House (November 13, 2018)

WNU Editor: This continues a long tradition of the following rule .... a person who works in the White House serves at the pleasure of the President .... that will usually also include his wife. Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama used their clout all the time. One can now include Melania Trump in that group.

More News On Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel Being Removed From Her Post

Trump aide Ricardel forced out after showdown with first lady -- Reuters
Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from first lady -- Al Jazeera
Mira Ricardel, Aide Who Crossed Melania Trump, Is Removed From Her White House Role -- The New York Times
National Security Deputy Mira Ricardel Transferred to Different Trump Administration Role -- Daily Mail
A White House aide picked a fight with Melania Trump. The first lady won. -- Washington Post

Melania Trump To Tell All

Big get: ABC News' Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas sat down with Melania Trump (above) during her recent trip to Africa

Daily Mail: Melania Trump to tell all: First Lady sits down for solo TV interview and talks about her husband's infidelity, the state of their marriage and reveals why she wore THAT jacket

* Melania Trump is speaking out about a variety of subjects in an interview with ABC News set to air on Friday
* The First Lady is asked about the state of her marriage, her husband's infidelity and her views on the #MeToo movement
* She is asked why she wore the 'I Really Don't Care Do You?' jacket to visit immigrant children who had been separated at the border
* ABC News' Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas sat down with her during her recent trip to Africa

ABC News has managed to land an interview with First Lady Melania Trump.

Being Melania – The First Lady will air this Friday at 10pm on ABC, and no question was off the table.

'You did agree to this interview, to your credit, with no preconditions,' states Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas.

'Knowing that there could be some tough questions asked.'

Read more ....

WNU Editor: If the hype is true, this will probably dominate the weekend news cycle.

Video Of Melania Trump Looking Horrified After Shaking Hands With Putin Emerges

Daily Mail: Video of Melania looking horrified after shaking hands with Putin emerges as social media speculates that she is 'the only one in the room who understands how dangerous this man actually is'

* Putin can be seen smiling and nodding in the clip as he is introduced to Melania
* Melania, who is a few inches taller than the ex-spy strongman, smiles in return
* But as soon as Putin releases her hand, she pulls a bizarre face in apparent shock

A video has emerged showing Melania Trump apparently looking horrified after shaking Vladimir Putin's hand during her husband's summit with the Russian president.

Putin can be seen smiling and nodding in the clip as he is introduced to Melania by President Trump in Helsinki, Finland on Monday.

Melania, who is a few inches taller than the ex-spy strongman, also smiles during the handshake in an apparently natural way.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Looking at the video it is hard to say what is actually going through her mind. But saying that she is the only who knows how dangerous Putin is .... hmmmm .... not really. I think everyone knows who Russian President Putin is, including President Trump .... Scoop: The time Putin actually enraged Trump (Axios). More here .... Putin showed a threatening video of nukes hitting Florida — and an outraged Trump snapped on him (Business Insider).

Melania Trump: 'This Trip Has Been Incredible For Me'

Photo: The first lady held her husband's hand as they made their way to Air Force One in Italy on Saturday after addressing US military personnel at a naval base

Daily Mail: 'This trip has been incredible for me': Proud Melania holds her husband's hand as she says farewell after winning hearts across Europe and the Middle East on the president's first foreign trip

* First lady addressed US military personnel at a naval base in Italy on Saturday
* In a rare speech, Melania Trump paid tribute to the sick children she had met in Europe and the Middle East in her first trip abroad as first lady
* Mrs Trump also said she was honored and blessed to have met Pope Francis
* Melania, dressed in a black custom-made Dolce & Gabbana dress, later held Trump's hand as their boarded Air Force One to head back to Washington

Melania Trump has proudly signed off from her first foreign trip as first lady before walking to Air Force One hand-in-hand with the president.

In a rare speech for Mrs Trump, the first lady addressed US military personnel at a naval base in Italy on Saturday afternoon ahead of the trip back to Washington with Donald Trump.

The first lady, dressed in a black custom-made Dolce & Gabbana dress with button-embellishments, said she would never forget the women and children she met during her nine days on the road in Europe and the Middle East.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Her style is definitely different from Michelle Obama ... and (IMHO) she was definitely a welcome diversion away from her husband and the other leaders. But meeting the Pope was probably for her .... a Roman Catholic .... the highlight of the entire trip.