1600 Daily The White House • April 16, 2019 First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence honor our Armed Forces

The White House • April 16, 2019 First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence honor our Armed Forces  Yesterday morning, First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to meet with members of our incredible United States Armed Forces and their families. “Our nation’s military service members and their families deserve our care and respect,” the Second Lady said before the trip. “I am always honored to have the opportunity to spend time with those who serve and work tirelessly to protect our freedoms.”    Watch: The First Lady and Second Lady meet with families of Fort Bragg   Upon arrival, Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence were greeted by several Generals and their spouses, including Commanding General Michael Garrett of the U.S. Army Forces Command and his wife. From there, Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence had an opportunity to witness elite capability demonstrations from members of the Army Special Operations. The behind-the-scenes visit was “incredibly impactful,” the First Lady said. “The United States Military is a national treasure . . . Thank you to Fort Bragg for welcoming us and letting us inside this tight-knit and admirable community of true heroes.” In honor of April as the Month of the Military Child, Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence also visited a student assembly at Albritton Middle School on Fort Bragg. After the school’s chorus performed a welcoming song, the First Lady and Second Lady took questions from the student body. In photos: The First Lady and Second Lady visit Fort Bragg More: Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence honor service members and their families Notre Dame: A symbol of faith around the world For nearly 1,000 years, the Cathedral of Notre Dame has stood as a spiritual home for millions. Yesterday, Americans joined the French in watching with shock and sadness as a devastating fire caused significant damage to this architectural masterpiece. On behalf of the American people, President Donald J. Trump offered his sincere condolences this morning to President Emmanuel Macron of France. Members of the Trump Administration joined the President in offering heartfelt thanks to the first responders and unity with the people of Paris. Vice President Mike Pence called the Notre Dame “an iconic symbol of faith to people all over the world,” adding that “it is heartbreaking to see a house of God in flames.” France remains the oldest ally of the United States. On September 12, 2001, the Notre Dame’s bells rang in solemn recognition of the previous day’s unprecedented attacks on American soil. We will never forget. Soon those bells will ring again—and America will do everything it can to help France restore this irreplaceable symbol of hope. Read Press Secretary Sarah Sanders’ full statement on the Notre Dame fire Video of the day: The 2019 Spring Garden Tours Spring has sprung at the White House, and the general public was invited over the weekend to take in the beautiful gardens of our South Grounds! Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead President Donald J. Trump participates in a roundtable on the economy and tax reform at Nuss Truck & Equipment in Burnsville, Minnesota | April 15, 2019