THANK YOU for another wonderful evening in Washington, D.C. TOGETHER, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?? pic.twitter.com/V3aoj9RUh4
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2017
United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump ended a whistle-stop tour of inaugural balls on Friday at a gala for the armed forces.
After appearing at the Liberty and Freedom Balls at the Washington Convention Centre, the first couple arrived at the National Building Museum shortly before 11pm to attend the tribute event where they danced with servicemen and women, Daily Mail reports.
Earlier, the newly sworn in president told thousands of well-heeled guests: ‘Now the fun begins,’ and reflected on the day’s various events as ‘beautiful’.
In her first public remarks since as First Lady, Melania, dazzling in a one-of-a-kind Hervé Pierre gown, said she was ‘honored’ by the role.
Egged on by her husband, who spoke with troops at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan via video conference moments earlier, she vowed: ‘We will fight. We will win. And we will make America great again.’
The president’s motorcade arrived back at the White House at 11.40pm, marking the end of a spectacular day of inaugural events.
The first lady wore a white gown she co-designed with Hervé Pierre, one of Carolina Herrera’s former staff
President Trump triumphantly greeted supporters at the first inaugural ball, joining his stunning first lady on stage to tell them: ‘Well, we did it. We did it. We began this journey and they said we, we, and me, we didn’t have a chance but we knew we were going to win and we won.’
The pair made a stylish entrance to the Liberty Ball at the Washington Convention Center, arriving just after 9.30pm to take their first dance as POTUS and FLOTUS to ‘My Way’.
The first lady dazzled in an ivory Hervé Pierre gown which featured a crimson waist ribbon while the president stuck to a traditional tuxedo.
After dancing alone for the song’s first verse, they were joined on stage by Vice President Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence. The whole family was then invited to join the couple on stage.
In a brief speech before his dance, President Trump again taunted his critics. ‘Today we had a great day. People that weren’t so nice to me were saying that we did a really good job today.
‘They hated to do it, but they did it and I respect that. I respect that but I have to say the crowd was unbelievable today.
The president and first lady were joined first by Vice President and Second Lady Pence and then by their families at the final event of the night
President Trump danced with Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Catherine Cartmell (left) but it was the first lady’s performance with Army Staff Sgt Jose A. Medina which drew the room’s gaze
The couples danced to one song only before making their way off the circular stage. President Trump cut a celebratory cake and the first an second families departed around 11.30pm
and then