Melania skips campaigning to makes first solo trip outside of DC for months with visit to New Hampshire hospital - while Ivanka stumps for her father in Florida
Melania Trump traveled to New Hampshire on Thursday but skipped out on campaigning in the crucial swing state as Ivanka Trump took part in four-state campaign tour for President Donald Trump's re-election bid.
The first lady's trip, which was to visit a Concord hospital, involved neither the presidential campaign nor the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans.
She was there to visit a neonatal program for babies born addicted to drugs. Combating addiction is one of the three pillars of her Be Best campaign.
She also made an unscheduled stop at a Manchester fire station she first visited with President Trump in 2018. The Central Fire Station in Manchester is a 'safe station' that allows people struggling with addiction to get help at any time.
New Hampshire has one of the highest rates of overdose death from opioids in the country and the first couple were there to talk about the crisis.
During Thursday's return visit, the first lady thanked the fire fighters for their work and asked them to 'Stay safe.'
Melania Trump traveled to New Hampshire on Thursday but skipped out on campaigning in the crucial swing state, instead focusing her visit on combating opioid addiction
Melania Trump made an unscheduled stop at a Manchester fire house that is a 'safe station' where addicts can get help
Melania Trump wore a face mask when she visited a Concord, N.H., hospital to see its treatment program for babies born with neonatal abstinent syndrome
Melania Trump praised and thanked hospital volunteers for their work during her visit
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump campaigned in Florida on Thursday: Pam Bondi, left, former Florida Attorney General, talks with her during a Fireside Chat at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa
Master Baker Anthony Ali, left, teaches Ivanka Trump how to roll Cuban bread at La Segunda Central Bakery during another campaign stop
She was in New Hampshire as part of Recovery Month, which takes place in September.
'In honor of #RecoveryMonth, I will visit New Hampshire today with @ONDCP Director Carroll to highlight a local hospital's treatment program for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS),' the first lady tweeted ahead of her trip.
Her first stop was the Concord Hospital, where she visited a Simulation Center that features several stations consisting of treatments aimed at helping provide comfort and care to babies born with NAS (neonatal abstinent syndrome).
Melania - wearing a dark brown $699 Elie Tahari coat, light brown pants and her signature high heels - spoke of the importance of highlighting recovery programs. She often visits hospitals as part of her Be Best work.
'September is National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate those who have embraced sobriety and the positive impact of a drug-free life. Today, I would like to highlight the people and programs that encourage and support the road to recovery for mothers and their innocent newborns,' she said during her visit.
She also met with a family who has completed the NAS program and met with a group of 'cuddle volunteers,' whose job it is to hold and soothe the babies.
In her remarks, Melania Trump singled out the 'cuddle volunteers' and the staff at the hospital for their work.
'Every day they work to give these newborns a fighting chance but they provide more than medical care; they give these innocent babies and their families the gift of hope and love,' she said.
She gave the hospital's Special Care Unit Nursery 20 fleece Be Best baby blankets to be used for future babies but did not visit the nursery due to COVID restrictions.
The first lady wore a face mask during her hospital visit - one of the few times she's been seen in public wearing one. Additionally anyone in close contact with her was tested for COVID.
Melania Trump has been focused on her signature initiative in recent days - she hosted an addiction roundtable at the White House earlier this month and led an event on sickle cell disease on Monday.
Her New Hampshire journey marked her first solo trip outside of Washington D.C. since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Meanwhile, the presidential contest in New Hampshire is close between President Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
A Sienna/New York Times poll out earlier this month had Biden in the lead by three points in a state that could prove critical to deciding who wins the White House this November.
Jill Biden, who maintains her own campaign schedule and staff, was in New Hampshire on Wednesday with Doug Emhoff, the husband of Biden running mate Kamala Harris.
Vice President Mike Pence will be in New Hampshire next Tuesday to hold a rally for the Trump campaign.
While the first lady was in New Hampshire on Thursday, Ivanka Trump was campaigning for her father in the crucial state of Florida.
Ivanka Trump held a 'fireside chat' with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in Tampa for her father's campaign.
She also learned how to roll Cuban bread at La Segunda Central Bakery, where she ordered three loaves of Cuban bread and some guava pastries to bring home with her to Washington D.C.
She's on a four-state tour of battleground states, also holding events in North Carolina, Texas, and Arizona.
Melania Trump thanked the fire fighters for their work and asked them to 'stay safe'
Melania Trump returned to the fire station she and President Trump visited in 2018
The first lady toured a simulation center the Concord, New Hampshire, hospital that helps babies who are born with drug addiction recover
Melania Trump was in New Hampshire to visit a hospital program as part of her Be Best campaign
First Lady Melania Trump gifted 20 fleece Be Best blankets to the hospital for its nursery
New Hampshire is a crucial battleground state in the 2020 election: Jill Biden and Dog Emhoff campaigned there on Wednesday
In a recent call held by the Trump campaign, officials bragged about the efforts of the Trump family in the re-election effort: Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric and Lara all have their own travel schedules and campaign stops.
Notably absent from any mention was the first lady.
Melania Trump spoke on the second night of the Republican National Convention from the White House Rose Garden but that was her last public campaign event.
The East Wing has not commented on the first lady's campaign schedule.
The Trump children, however, have been busy on the campaign trail.
The first daughter surprised volunteers at the Latinos for Trump headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday, where she also volunteered to work the phone bank.
After her visit, she sat down with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and others to participate in a roundtable discussion about America's working families.
Earlier this week in Wilmington, North Carolina, she spoke of her father's accomplishments, including the First Step Act which removed a 'three strikes' life sentence for some offenses and allowing judges more discretion when it comes to the sentencing of non-violent crimes.
'Of all the people who've talked about positively impacting the system for better, it was this president who delivered the most historic criminal justice reform that we've had in a generation and it's just getting started,' Ivanka said.
Her siblings have also stayed busy campaigning.
Ivanka Trump surprised volunteers at the Latinos for Trump headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday while she is on a four-state swing for her father's re-election bid
Ivanka Trump volunteered to work a phone bank during her Arizona campaign stop
Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle held a campaign rally east of Detroit with musician Kid Rock last week
Eric Trump takes a selfie with a supporter while he campaigned for his father in Georgia on Tuesday
Lara Trump was with President Trump when he was in Wilmington, N.C., last week
Lara Trump campaigns with congressional candidate Lara Loomer in Florida
Ivanka Trump also visited a bakery during her campaign trip to Wilmington, N.C.
Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle held a campaign rally east of Detroit with musician Kid Rock last week.
The couple also has had stops in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio and North Carolina.
Eric and Lara Trump have also been active on the campaign trail.
Lara Trump is on a Women for Trump bus tour in Florida along with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump campaign staffer Katrina Pierson.
She was also with President Trump when he was in Wilmington, N.C., last week.
Eric Trump was also in Florida last week and has made stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He was in George on Tuesday.
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