First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance visited members of the U.S. Marine Corps along with their family members in North Carolina, marking the first time the two women travelled together for a trip without their husbands. The visit focused on delivering Thanksgiving care packages to Marines and their relatives, with Trump emphasizing the sacrifices of military families, whom she described as “the quiet strength of our nation.”
During the event, Trump addressed some 1,600 uniformed, cheering Marines and their families at Marine Corps Air Station New River, stating, “Please know that our nation is thinking of you, praying for you and deeply grateful for your service,” while speaking from a stage flanked by parked tanks and helicopters. She also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence to the military, noting that “technology is changing the art of war” and predicting that “AI will alter war more profoundly than any technology since nuclear weapons.”
The two leaders also recognized the just-passed 250th anniversary of the Marines, with Vance stating, “military families are truly a model for our country and for my own family,” though the vice president is a former Marine. Brigadier General Ralph J. Rizzo Jr. emphasized that visits by dignitaries like the first and second lady “matter because they show our families their service and sacrifices are seen and appreciated.”
Trump and Vance’s speeches included school visits where they discussed AI with high schoolers and helped younger children with crafts, including making turkeys from cardstock and Elmer’s glue. They listened to a presentation by students in an advanced placement research class from the Lejeune High School “Devilpups,” recalling the Marine Corps’ “Devil Dog” nickname, and had discussions about technological development.
The visit underscored the significance of military families in the national narrative, with Trump’s remarks reflecting appreciation for their contributions during the holiday season.
