Melania Trump Hands Out Christmas Presents to London Children

Melania Trump Hands Out Christmas Presents to London Children
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump smiles amongst children during a visit at the Salvation Army Clapton centre, as the NATO summit takes place in Watford, in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)
12/4/2019
Updated:
12/4/2019

First Lady Melania Trump was greeted by dozens of school children in northeast London on Dec. 4 when she attended a Salvation Army event to hand out Christmas presents and decorate a tree.

Melania, in London while President Donald Trump attends a NATO summit, complimented the students on their Christmas hats while helping them to make festive wreaths, as a brass band played carols in the background.

“What nice hats you have, lovely,” she said to one table of pupils.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump greets children during a visit at the Salvation Army Clapton centre, as the NATO summit takes place in Watford, in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump greets children during a visit at the Salvation Army Clapton centre, as the NATO summit takes place in Watford, in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

The first lady, who attended the center with Suzanne Johnson, wife of the U.S. ambassador to Britain, also presented the children with baubles after they sang the Christmas hit “All I want for Christmas.”

“I get to meet Mrs (Suzanne) Johnson and Mrs Trump. They’re really big because Mrs Trump is the wife of Donald Trump so it’s really exciting,” said 10-year-old schoolboy Deniz Atmali.

“Mrs Trump came to the Salvation Army this morning to celebrate Christmas with us and she was making Christmas ornaments with us, she was explaining where she came from and surprisingly she’s never had a mince pie,” said 10-year-old girl Isabelle Bates.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump joins local school students and U.S. Marines stationed at the U.S. Embassy, wrapping holiday presents to be donated to the Salvation Army, at the Salvation Army Clapton Center in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters)
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump joins local school students and U.S. Marines stationed at the U.S. Embassy, wrapping holiday presents to be donated to the Salvation Army, at the Salvation Army Clapton Center in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters)

Melania also helped the charity’s staff to put donated Christmas gifts in bags.

“We want to help others have a really good Christmas and so we will be distributing these presents to families who we know don’t have very much and that will be able to make Christmas just a little bit special,” Salvation Army Communications Secretary Dean Pallant said.

The children sang for the first lady. She then gave them ornaments from “Be Best,” which is her public awareness initiative for the well-being of children.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump prepares Christmas decorations with children as she visits the Salvation Army Clapton centre, as the NATO summit takes place in Watford, in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump prepares Christmas decorations with children as she visits the Salvation Army Clapton centre, as the NATO summit takes place in Watford, in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)
Reuters contributed to this report.