President Trump visits African American History Museum
— -- President Donald Trump visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture today, touring various exhibits, including “The Paradox of Liberty” and one profiling Dr. Ben Carson, the nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Joining Trump for the tour was daughter Ivanka Trump, adviser Omarosa Manigault, Ben Carson and his wife, Candy Carson. The group was accompanied by museum director Lonnie Bunch.
“Honestly, it’s fantastic,” Donald Trump said of the museum before posing for a photo with Ben Carson, adding that he was “very proud” of Carson. “I’ve learned, and I’ve seen, and they’ve done an incredible job.”
The president was initially scheduled to visit the museum in observance of Martin Luther King Day, but the visit was removed from his calendar because of scheduling issues and was not fully planned, ABC News later learned.
In brief remarks after the tour, Trump quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and stressed unity.
“We’re going to bring this country together, maybe bring some of the world together, but we’re going to bring this country together,” he said. “We have a divided country. It’s been divided for many, many years, but we’re going to bring it together.”
Last week, after Trump's press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, first lady Melania Trump hosted his wife, Sara Netanyahu, on a visit to the museum.
The women were accompanied by museum director Lonnie Bunch and the Smithsonian’s secretary, David Skorton.
“Mrs Sara Netanyahu met at the White House with @FLOTUS Melania Trump, who surprised her with a visit to @NMAAHC,” read a tweet from Netanyahu’s office, along with a trio of photos taken at the museum and the White House.
Melania Trump reportedly said in a statement after the visit, “As we remember, with deep humility and reverence, the historic plight of slavery, which the Jewish and African-American people have known all too well, we rededicate ourselves to those powerful words that both our nations hold dear: Never again.”
