- First Lady Melania Trump made her first solo public appearance by joining Prime Minister of Japan’s wife, Akie Abe in a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden
- The two took in the sights while their husbands played golf at President Trump’s club in Jupiter, Florida
- Mrs Trump revealed in a statement she plans to preserve the White House Gardens specifically the First Lady’s Kitchen Garden and the Rose Garden
First Lady Melania Trump showed her love for the outdoors by choosing to leave her penthouse in Trump Tower and trekking to Delray, Florida for a museum and garden tour with the Japanese Prime Minister’s wife.
It is Mrs Trump’s first public appearance as first lady without her husband.
All smiles, the First Lady joined the Prime Minister of Japan’s wife, Akie Abe, in a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden in Delray Beach, Florida.
Mrs Trump also revealed she has a green thumb and wants to make sure the White House gardens continue to flourish.
Mrs Trump also revealed she has a green thumb and wants to make sure the White House gardens continue to flourish.
First Lady Melania Trump and Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, feed Koi fish during a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Mrs Trump said in a statement: ‘Gardening teaches us the fundamentals in care and the evolution of living things’
The women chatted and strolled through the beautiful Japanese Garden in Delray Beach, Florida
Mrs Trump spent time with Mrs Abe the day after she was criticized for not giving the Prime Minister of Japan’s wife a tour of the White House, a tradition for the FLOTUS
Mrs Trump and Mrs Abe listen to a guide as they tour Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens on Saturday morning
This was Melania Trump’s first public solo appearance as First Lady of the United States. She has been living in Trump Tower
Yesterday, Mrs Trump was harshly criticized for leaving the First Lady of Japan to visit D.C. while her husband met with President Trump. Mrs Abe visited Gallaudet University Friday and went to a National Cherry Blossom Festival committee meeting at the Japanese embassy.
Giving an official White House tour and spending time with the spouse of foreign leaders is a typical job of FLOTUS.
In a statement, the White House said: ‘The First Lady was very much looking forward to welcoming Mrs Abe to the White House upon her arrival in Washington; however, she was informed that Mrs Abe had previous commitments during her stay in DC.’
However, Mrs Trump did greet the Prime Minister and First Lady at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland before they all jetted off to Mar-a-Lago.
Mrs Trump expressed her love for gardening in a statement to CNN: ‘Both our countries histories and cultures are steeped in the nurture and nature of gardening.’
‘Having knowledge of different cultures and customs is a wonderful way to learn and to explore. Gardening teaches us the fundamentals in care and the evolution of living things, all while inspiring us to nurture our minds and to relax and strengthen our bodies.’
Park Administrator Bonnie White Lemay (right) gives Mrs Abe and Mrs Trump a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
First Lady Melania Trump and Prime Minister of Japan’s wife are trailed by photographers as they spend the day at Morikami Museum
The first ladies feed Koi during their garden trip while their husbands played golf in Jupiter, Florida
The first lady met the Japanese Prime Minister and his wife at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland yesterday
In a statement, First Lady Melania Trump said: ‘I hope that together Mrs. Abe and I can continue to inspire our youth to enjoy the beauty around them and to restore their minds in the peacefulness of their surroundings’
First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement she was looking forward to meeting Mrs Abe the previous day but was informed the Prime Minister’s wife had meetings
Today, Abe and Trump toured the Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden while their husbands played golf at President Trump’s golf club in Jupiter.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, senior adviser to the first lady said in a statement: ‘The First Lady has a deep personal commitment to her role as caretaker and nurturer, beginning with her family.’
‘She believes there is a connection between a child’s mind and places of calm and beauty to be used as a tool for us all.’
‘As a mother and as the First Lady of this country, Mrs. Trump is committed to the preservation and continuation of the White House Gardens, specifically the First Lady’s Kitchen Garden and the Rose Garden.’
Mrs Trump said in a statement: ‘I hope that together Mrs. Abe and I can continue to inspire our youth to enjoy the beauty around them and to restore their minds in the peacefulness of their surroundings.’
First Lady Melania Trump, center, and Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe listen as Park Administrator Bonnie White Lemay
Akie Abe spent time in D.C. yesterday without First Lady Melania Trump and visited Gallaudet University
First solo outing: Mrs Trump said she would have liked to meet up with the Japanese Prime Minister’s wife yesterday but Mrs Abe had prior engagements
Friday, President Donald Trump took a trip with his family and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe. Donald was joined by Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and their kids