Melania Trump is now back in the United States after her visit to India with President Donald Trump. While the tour lasted for two days only, several reports claimed that it was a successful trip for the First Couple.
On Monday, they arrived in Ahmedabad, alongside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. It was reported that they attended the "Namaste Trump" event held in the world's largest cricket stadium. The event was followed by a trip to New Delhi, where they met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As the US President and the Prime Minister of India held talks, the First Lady had a solo trip in one of the city's government-run schools. But, before the trip concluded, they also visited the famous Taj Mahal, where they had photo ops together.
According to CNN, Melania Trump now joins the "long list" of the United States' First Ladies who went to India, either by solo or accompanied by their husbands and family members. The tour was even deemed to be a "rite of passage" for the First Ladies as it has become all too common for them to have a tour in the Asian country during their time inside the White House.
The publication attested that the "tradition" seemingly started with Jackie Kennedy when she went to India in 1962. She reportedly flew out of the United States without her husband and opted to make it a "girls' trip" as she went there with her sister.
Seven years later, Pat Nixon also visited the country together with her husband. The former First Couple's visit was noted as the shortest trip to India among all the First Ladies and Presidents' trip to the country as they only stayed for a day, which is just next to Donald and Melania Trump's 2-day trip.
This tour was then followed by the Carters in 1978. Their official India tour was said to be "one of the most significant" First Lady tours to the country since Rosalynn Carter "gifted" the first-ever television in the village of Chuma Kheragaon, which is now known as the Carterpuri since the community renamed the village after the Carters.
Barbara Bush and Laura Bush also went to visit the country, especially the Taj Mahal in 1984 and 2006, respectively. Hilary Clinton made a visit as well, alongside her husband and daughter in 1995.
Prior to Melania Trump's recent India tour, Michelle Obama also reportedly came to the Asian country in 2010. Her tour was also recognized as one of the most iconic First Lady visits due to her participation in an informal dance.
