Melania Trump, Usha Vance Honor Military Families, Deployed Troops With Care Packages

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD — In a warm show of support to military families ahead of the Christmas holiday, First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance spent Monday afternoon visiting with military families and crafting care packages for deployed service members.

“May this Christmas bring peace to your homes, safety to those who are deployed, and gratitude in the hearts of every American who thanks you for your service and sacrifice,” the first lady told the gathered guests.

Trump and Vance joined organizers with the American Red Cross at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the base where Trump administration officials, the vice president, and the president himself fly out of on Air Force One, Air Force Two, or other presidential aircraft around the world. The base is home to 26,000 joint military and civilian personnel and their families and is made up of every service component.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 01: First lady Melania Trump (2nd R) helps make Red Cross holiday care packages during an event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

During Monday’s event, Trump and Vance created care packages for deployed service members and wrote cards to these deployed troops. They laughed and chatted with military spouses, and they offered a message to those present: their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.

“Today, we are surrounded by people whose strength is often quiet, but always powerful,” the first lady said in prepared remarks as the event began. “We speak regularly of the bravery of our service members—and we should. But we must also illuminate the bravery of those who walk beside them. The spouses who carry the weight of family life on top of their own dreams.”

“Your lives require a resilience that few outside the military can understand,” Trump told the military families. “Moves that take you across the country, and around the world. Holidays spent with an empty chair at the table. Milestones celebrated over a screen because the person you love is thousands of miles away.”

The first lady praised the families of service members for standing strong throughout the hardships that military families must endure.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 01: First lady Melania Trump (R) and second lady Usha Vance (L) speak as they write cards during a Red Cross holiday care package event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“Through every transition, every deployment, every homecoming,” she said, “you continue to show grace, determination, and unbreakable spirit. You keep life steady for your children. You manage homes, careers, finances, and schedules … all while giving comfort to your family. You carry this extra responsibility, because you love someone who has sworn to serve.”

Trump pushed those present to also take care of themselves, arguing that their wellbeing is “vital—not just for your families, but for your own future.”

“Your journey matters,” she said. “Your voice matters. And your strength continues to inspire us all.”

FLOTUS and Vance were joined at the event by a number of the spouses of Trump’s cabinet secretaries: Jennifer Hegseth, spouse of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Kathryn Burgum, spouse of Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Cheryl Hines, spouse of HHS Secretary RFK Jr, Liz Wright, spouse of Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Lisa Collins, spouse of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and Marlo Greer, spouse of the United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Jennifer Rauchet (C), the wife of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, participates in a Red Cross holiday care package event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

As the first and second ladies chatted with guests and wrote holiday cards for deployed troops, soft Christmas jazz played and those gathered snacked on hot cocoa and cookies.

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” Trump wrote on one card shown to the press. “Thank you for your service, our nation is proud of you! Warm wishes, Melania Trump.”

Red Cross Organizers at Monday’s event said that they planned to make 700 care packages total, packages that would include Rice Krispies, hydration packs, Slim Jims, tissues, peanuts, granola bars, popcorn packets, and handwritten notes.

“Every package built here today is built with American values,” Trump noted. “Each represents liberty, love, community, and honor. Each is delivered with heart and love. The foundation of our great nation.”

Usha Vance similarly described the packages as “part of a proud and enduring tradition.”

“The Red Cross began distributing these packages during World War I and has continued that work ever since,” she explained. “Each year, more than 220,000 active duty and veteran families also receive Red Cross assistance wherever they are, whenever they need it. It’s an honor to contribute to that legacy of service today. As we enter the holiday season, may we be reminded of our shared responsibility for our communities, our neighbors, and our nation, and may we continue to lift up those who serve and sacrifice for our country.”