Battling the elements! Melania Trump has a hair-raising return from West Virginia as she struggles in the wind - just hours after getting caught in torrential rain when she left D.C.
- Melania, 49, left the White House on Monday morning to visit West Virginia
- The first lady had to battle the rainy weather while boarding her flight
- Melania visited Huntington, West Virginia, to meet with federal, local, and state leaders about the opioid crisis
- She landed a few hours later wearing a dark navy blue denim dress and heels
- Melania later gave a thumbs up before she left West Virginia to head back to D.C.
- When she landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, she struggled with gusts of wind that blew her hair in the air
- This trip comes after she and President Donald Trump, 73, spent the weekend away from Washington D.C. in Bedminster, New Jersey
Melania Trump battled both torrential rain and gusts of wind that had her hair flying in the air during her travels to and from West Virginia on Monday.
The 49-year-old first lady was unable to keep her highlighted brown locks in place when she stepped off a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland while on her way back home to the White House — just hours after braving the rain in Washington, D.C.
If she was bothered by the inclement weather however, she didn't let it show. She kept a straight face while holding on to the aircraft's railing with one hand and her dress in the other as she made her way down the steps upon her arrival.
Hair-raising journey: Melania Trump, 49, battled the wind when she landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday evening after her day trip to West Virginia
Out of control: The first lady was unable to keep her highlighted brown locks in place when she stepped off a plane
Careful: Melania held on to the railing with one hand and her dress with the other
She wore a dark navy denim dress with a brown belt and suede stiletto heels for her day in West Virginia, and keeping with her signature look, she styled her brunette locks in soft waves.
The sky was gray and cloudy, but that didn't stop her from putting on her oversize sunglasses to step off the plane.
Melania's hair blew in every direction, and it even covered her face at one point, but she kept her cool as she struggled with the windy conditions at the airport.
The first lady was in Huntington, West Virginia, earlier in the day to visit with federal, state, and local leaders, including U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, about the opioid crisis.
'I am here to give you my support,' she told participants in the roundtable discussion.
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Making an entrance: The sky was gray and cloudy, but that didn't stop her from putting on her oversize sunglasses to step off the plane
Keeping her cool: If she was bothered by the inclement weather, she didn't let it show
Laughing it off: Melania appeared to have a smile on her face when she tried to fix her windblown locks
Meet and greet: The first lady was greeted at the bottom of the aircraft's steps
Saying hi: Melania had a smile on her face as she shook one man's hand
West Virginia has the country's highest fatal opioid overdose rate and has struggled, like many other states, to confront the many aspects of the problem.
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams characterized it as a grim task.
'If not another gram of heroin is distributed, if not another gram of heroin is sold, we will be dealing with this issue for the next four or five decades,' he said.
The first lady asked how the crisis is hurting children and was told about research on babies born addicted to opioids and about addicted teens who need a different system of care.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin described the challenges that arise when kids are taken from addicted parents and placed into foster care.
Happy camper: Melania flashed a thumbs-up at the end of her trip to Huntington, West Virginia
Heading home: She appeared to be in high spirits after her trip to discuss the opioid crisis
Getting drenched: Melania's battle with the wind came after she left the White House on Monday morning during a downpour
Weather appropriate? She carried a black umbrella, but still opted to wear stilettos
On the go: Melania visited Huntington to meet with federal, state, and local leaders about the opioid crisis
Stylish: The first lady wore a dark navy blue denim dress and heels
Do it in denim like Melania Trump in Lafayette 148
Melania Trump cut a stylish figure as she was spotted arriving in West Virginia to visit with state & local leaders and learn more about community efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
As she left D.C. in torrential downpours, she still managed to look like a million bucks thanks to her panache for chic tailoring and a little help from her fashion advisor and friend Herve Pierre.
For the day, she rocked this denim shirt dress from Lafayette 148 New York and paired it with suede sky-high high heels.
Head on over to Neiman Marcus to get your hands on this exact same dress, or get the look for less with one of our high street finds in the carousel below.
We love the Nanushka dress!
The first lady also spoke separately with a small group that included the city's fire chief and the head of a medical center that specializes in caring for babies born addicted to drugs.
'We are looking forward to working on the problems West Virginia is facing with the opioid crisis,' she told them.
Melania appeared to be in high spirits after her productive day in West Virginia, as she flashed a thumbs up before boarding her plane back to Washington D.C.
The clear skies she experienced in West Virginia was a stark contrast to the rain she battled earlier that day when leaving Washington D.C.
She clutched an umbrella, but she decided to take a risk and stick with her stilettos while walking through the D.C. downpour.
Bring the sunshine: The weather in West Virginia was better for the first lady
Happy to be here: She gave the cameras a wave and slight smile while walking to her waiting car
All smiles: Melania arrived with acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan (right) for a roundtable discussion
Busy bee: 'I am here to give you my support,' she told participants at the roundtable discussion held at Cabell-Huntington Health Center in Huntington
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, who previously served as the first lady's press secretary and has now replaced Sarah Huckabee Sanders, took to Twitter to give a play-by-play of Melania's visit.
'HAPPENING NOW: @flotus is wheels up & on her way to West Virginia to participate in mtgs w state & local leaders and learn more about community efforts to combat the opioid epidemic,' she wrote.
First daughter Ivanka Trump also had to battle the rainy weather on Monday morning when she left her home for the office wearing a white dress with a pink floral pattern.
But Ivanka was luckier than her stepmother, as she was able to avoid most of the storm from the comfort of her vehicle.
On Sunday evening, Melania and her husband, President Donald Trump, 73, returned from their weekend visit to Bedminister, New Jersey.
Poignant: Melania also went to see a display of 453 American flags in Cabell County, each of which represents a child currently in foster care in the area
Emotional: Many of the children who have been placed in foster care are there because of the opioid epidemic
Heartbreaking: The first lady was in the area to learn more about what is being done to combat the opioid crisis, speaking to local leaders about community efforts
The first couple traveled to there on Friday following the Fourth of July celebrations in Washington D.C. to stay at Trump National Golf Club.
Melania was pictured walking alongside her husband in a white dress that fell just above her ankles.
The silhouette of the dress accented Melania's waist with a white belt cinched just above her hips.
She paired the look with nude-colored stilettos and wore her hair in its standard loose waves.
The dress was more formal compared to what Melania wore when she left for Bedminster on Friday morning.
Off to work: Ivanka Trump also had to brave the rainy D.C. weather to get to work on Monday
Staying dry: She was able to get into her car in the shelter to avoid the rainy weather
Returning home: Melania's trip to West Virginia came right after she returned back to the White House on Sunday from a weekend trip to Bedminster, New Jersey
Back at it: Melania and her husband, President Donald Trump, arrived back in D.C. on Sunday after their weekend away
Change in attire: Her dress was more formal compared to what she wore to travel to Bedminster on Friday morning
For their flight to New Jersey, she donned khaki-colored pants that cut off just above her ankles and a white button-up shirt, which was much more casual than her dressier attire on Sunday.
Melania paired her casual attire with $990 Michael Kors white and brown tote and matching white sneakers.
Her long brunette locks remained down in soft waves, and she shaded her eyes with one of her favorite pair of sunglasses when out in the Washington D.C. sun.
It was a short plane ride for the first family, with Bedminster only about 200 miles away from the White House.
The Trumps landed at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey a few hours later and appeared ready to reach the golf course for their weekend away.
Comfy: The first lady left the White House on Friday morning wearing khaki pants and a white button-up shirt before boarding Air Force One
Braving the rain: Melania's causal outfit was a stark contrast to the white dress she donned on Thursday for the Fourth of July festivities on the National Mall
Wet: She braved the rainy weather by wearing a white dress with colored stripes and pink heels, and although she had an umbrella under her seat, she did not put it up
Rainy weather has become somewhat of a problem for the couple in recent days.
Trump was anticipated to give a speech at the 'Salute to America' Fourth of July event held in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, but it was postponed to give time for the rain to subside before the first family appeared on stage.
Melania took a risk during the wet event by wearing a white short-sleeved dress that fell just above her ankles. The dress included stripes of different colors in the rainbow, and she paired the look with pink heels.
Although the outfit wasn't exactly patriotic, Melania was a vision in white when walking the stage with Trump before he gave his speech to thousands of drenched citizens.
Rain then continued throughout the event, with the first lady looking wet by the end.
