Trump is AIRBORNE to China on Air Force One without Melania as list reveals which VIP family and Cabinet secretaries made it – and who didn’t
President Donald Trump is headed to China, where he will face a key meeting with Xi Jinping amid the Iran war.
While First Lady Melania Trump accompanied him on his 2017 trip, she is not traveling with the President this time.
However, Melania will explore the shooting locations of Rush Hour 4 while documentary director Brett Ratner is traveling and on location. South China Morning Post first reported.
The president also brought along his son, Eric Trump, and his wife, Lara, who accidentally entered Marine One through the wrong doors and were taken back to the South Lawn with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during official departure.
Rubio then allowed the Trumps into the presidential helicopter before boarding the plane himself.
Rubio was accompanied on Air Force One by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer; because military conflicts and trade agreements will be hot topics.
Trump is also bringing with him some key aides, including Stephen Miller, Communications Director Steven Cheung, James Blair, who worked outside the White House to help Republicans win the midterm elections, and Walt Nauta, the President’s body man.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was specifically not included in the list presented by the White House.
President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he boards Air Force One en route to China for a key meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the Iran war
Eric Trump (right) and Lara Trump (center) exit Marine One in front of Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) before boarding Air Force One bound for China on Tuesday afternoon
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in mid-March but continued working.
Anna Kelly, chief deputy White House press secretary, will be on the trip because press secretary Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave.
Natalie Harp, nicknamed the ‘human printer’ because she always travels with a portable printer, is also on the trip.
Just like Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley.
The White House also invited a business delegation to China that appeared to be traveling separately.
Elon Musk, the former leader of the Office of Government Efficiency, was also on that list.
It’s been almost a year since the dramatic fight between Trump and Musk, but Musk now appears to be fully in the President’s good graces.
The Tesla and SpaceX chairman will be joined by Apple’s Tim Cook, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick (who first worked in the Trump administration and is married to GOP Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick), BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman and more, a White House official told the Daily Mail.
Trump postponed the trip, originally scheduled for late March, citing the active conflict in Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) leaves Eric Trump (center) and Lara Trump (right) boarding Marine One after Trump accidentally boarded the presidential helicopter using the wrong door
Eric Trump (left) and Lara Trump (right) watch President Donald Trump answer questions from reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before heading to China
(from left) Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Walt Nauta, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Natalie Harp, nicknamed the ‘human printer’ for bringing a portable printer with her on her travels, walk on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One as the President heads to China on Tuesday
President Donald Trump waves as he leaves Joint Base Andrews for Beijing, China, Tuesday afternoon
At a news conference on Sunday, a senior US official said Trump did not further delay his meeting with Xi, arguing that the President could walk and chew gum at the same time.
‘Why shouldn’t he continue with his other duties as a US President?’ thought the official. ‘I don’t think he has the luxury of focusing on just one soda straw issue.’
The official noted that the Iran war continued “for weeks and weeks.”
‘Frankly, six weeks ago we were a little bit more active in Iran and the President decided to pull that back. But as of right now, I honestly think we will go on the trip,” the source said.
Trump took a trip to China during his first term in November 2017, less than a year after he was sworn in.
Although President Joe Biden has made many trips to Asia, he has never visited China during his tenure.
Instead, he met with Xi on the sidelines of several international conferences.
