Melania Trump in Africa was big news in 2018. Her visit was against the backdrop of President Donald Trump describing the continent as a ‘sh!thole’. It was unimaginable that Melania would visit a continent that her husband lowly thought of. In January 2018, Trump who was in his first term as the American President described Africa and Haiti in a derogatory term.
In a rebuttal after an outcry by US lawmakers, African human rights activists among other quarters, Trump absolved himself of using derogatory remarks. He insisted that his language was simply tough and nothing more than that. Wasn’t it surprising that she chose to visit Africa after this incident?
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Melania Trump in Africa Visit
Was it a PR stunt to calm down the violent waters that Trump stirred when he described Africa as a sh!thole? Most likely it was but there isn’t such an admission in the public domain. Nevertheless, See Africa Today has a special edition of what Melania Trump in Africa visit looked like. She visited the following countries:
- Kenya
- Ghana
- Malawi
- Egypt

US First Lady Melania Trump enjoying a wildlife safari at the Nairobi National Park. Photo/AP News
1. Kenya
Melania Trump travelled to Kenya in October 2018. Her tours in Nairobi included the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage where she spent time feeding baby elephants. The First Lady also enjoyed a wildlife safari at the Nairobi National Park watching wild animals and learning about wildlife protection projects.
The 54-year-old also visited Nest Children’s Home which supports children of mothers who serving prison time. She engaged with young children by reading books and providing them with baby blankets and teddy bears. The former model spent time with former Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta discussing educational improvement for children while promoting maternal care. Margaret and Melania later headed out to the Nairobi National Theatre where Sarakasi Allstars entertained them. While Melania Trump was in Kenya, she promoted her Be Best mission to help children thrive and protect nature.
2. Ghana
Ghana delightfully welcomed Melania Trump in Africa. She travelled to Accra and Cape Coast during her independent tour across Africa. She implemented Be Best program elements that support a healthy mind and body for children at multiple facilities across Ghana. One of her major visits was at Ridge Hospital. She toured the hospital to learn more about the progress and impact of programs supported by USAID for mothers, infants, and children.

Melania Trump in Ghana when she visited in October 2018. Photo/NBC News
She held discussions at the State House with Ghana’s former Ghanaian First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo about common objectives to improve child and maternal health services. In Cape Coast, she stopped at Cape Coast Castle which served as a major location in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. She crossed through the slave trade Door of No Return and then laid flowers at the previous slave living spaces. She held discussions with local rulers at Emintsimadze Palace and joined regional ceremonies.
3. Malawi
Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe became an unexpected host for Melania Trump in Africa. Lilongwe was the first stop for Melania’s independent African tour. Her mission to Malawi centred on spreading her Be Best initiative which works to prevent harm to young people and promotes their growth and learning. She stopped by Chipala Primary School and engaged students and staff.
She watched as students learned English and then joined the book distribution ceremony before giving students soccer balls and Frisbee toys plus classroom supply tote bags. These were sponsored by USAID to enhance education opportunities. Her visit ended at State House where she was hosted by Former Malawian First Lady Gertrude Mutharika. Their discussion broadly touched on health and education.
4. Egypt

Melania Trump in Egypt. Photo/VOA
A contingent of high-flying Egyptian officials led by U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Thomas Goldberger welcomed Melania to Egypt. Egypt marked the last leg of Melania Trump in Africa solo tour. She left Cairo International Airport for Ittihadiya Palace where she met President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar El-Sisi. She toured several iconic cultural sites, including the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza. She also assessed several USAID-funded projects across Egypt before jetting back to the US.
What stunned the world more was her tight security detail, never seen before for an American First Lady. Her presence in Africa quelled the anger Africans had against her husband for calling their ancestral land a sh!thole. Melania Trump in Africa brought just more than glamour to the continent. Her visit had a great impact on maternal health and education for young school-going children.