Melania Trump fed elephants, visited with orphans and wore a hat reminiscent of colonialism on the fourth day of her African tour
First lady Melania Trump kicked off the fourth day of her African tour with a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
She was given the opportunity to bottle-feed and pet orphaned elephant calves during the visit.
Source: AP
At one point, one of the calves started charging the first lady, which caused her to lose her balance.
Source: Pulse Live Kenya
Luckily, the baby elephant was quickly calmed and Mrs. Trump laughed the incident off.
Source: Pulse Live Kenya
After the visit with the baby elephants, the first lady was taken on a short safari through Nairobi National Park.
According to the pool report, the first lady spotted a rhino and a buffalo on the short safari.
During the visit to the park, she also visited an ivory burn site, where illegally obtained elephant tusks were destroyed to discourage the poaching of the endangered animals.
Source: AFP
At several points during the safari, the first lady took out her cellphone to take pictures of the wildlife.
The first lady received some flak on Twitter for her outfit, which evoked Africa's colonial past.
Pith helmets, like the one Mrs. Trump wore on safari, were often worn by the imperialists who divided the continent up amongst themselves at the turn of the century, putting most Africans under European rule.
Many on social media commented that the outfit was less than appropriate for the occasion.
Source: AP
Melania: What should I wear on my Africa trip to pay tribute to the culture and history of my hosts?
WH staff: A pith helmet. Definitely a pith helmet. https://t.co/JSmNkWM2RF
Oh my goodness I thought she would stop at belted khaki but FLOTUS actually brought a pith helmet on her Africa jaunt. #IReallyDontCareDoU https://t.co/9QlbKIK6Oe
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) October 5, 2018Melania has dressed like she's in "Out of Africa." Full colonial. Sends a message: I am both stupid and insensitive.
— Marj Wakefield (@MarjWakefield) October 5, 2018Later in the day, Trump visited The Nest orphanage in Nairobi where she was greeted by a gaggle of dancing children.
The children that are cared for at the facility have parents who are incarcerated.
Source: AP
Like her first stop at a hospital in Ghana, the first lady handed out teddy bears and blankets with her initiative's motto "Be Best."
Students at the center gifted the first lady a scrapbook in return, according to the pool report.
Source: Business Insider
In mother mode, the first lady held several of the babies at the hospital.
In the afternoon, Trump had tea with Kenya's first lady, Margaret Kenyatta.
The two first ladies posed for a photo together under the portico of the Kenyan statehouse.
Source: AP
Many local children were in attendance at the afternoon performance.
Trump and her counterpart took to the stage to take pictures with the performers before ending her busy day of public appearances.
The next and final stop of the first lady's six-day trip will be Egypt. She returns to Washington, DC on Sunday.
Source: AP
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