President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump retweets personal attacks on Clinton, Pelosi, Abrams Biden swipes at Trump: ‘Presidency is about a lot more than tweeting from your golf cart’ GOP sues California over Newsom’s vote-by-mail order MORE marked Memorial Day on Monday, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery before delivering remarks at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
First lady Melania Trump
Melania TrumpTrump, GOP go all-in on anti-China strategy The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Surgeon General stresses need to invest much more in public health infrastructure, during and after COVID-19; Fauci hopeful vaccine could be deployed in December The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Mnuchin: More COVID-19 congressional action ahead MORE, Vice President Pence, second lady Karen Pence
Karen Sue PenceOVERNIGHT ENERGY: New documents show EPA rolled back mileage standards despite staff, WH concerns | Land management bureau grants 75 royalty rate cuts for oil and gas | EPA employees allege leadership interference with science in watchdog survey Karen Pence urges people to return to reopening Great Smoky Mountains National Park Pence says he should have worn mask during Mayo Clinic visit MORE and Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Mark EsperBirx: ‘I’m very concerned when people go out and don’t maintain social distancing’ Roundup: Everything you need to know about COVID-19 today 125 lawmakers urge Trump administration to support National Guard troops amid pandemic MORE joined the president for the wreath-laying ceremony.
LIVE: POTUS and FLOTUS Participate in a Wreath Laying Ceremony https://t.co/IOBZrkMSWs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 25, 2020
In the roughly five-minute ceremony, Trump walked up to the wreath and stood silently before touching his hand to it and saluting.
Pres. Trump participates in wreath-laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day. https://t.co/shvQlsxQij pic.twitter.com/jbYo1VuV08
— ABC News (@ABC) May 25, 2020
Trump did not speak at the cemetery, which has been closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The president later traveled to Baltimore to speak at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, where, during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Tens of thousands of service members and national guardsmen are on the front lines of our war against this terrible virus,” Trump said. “As one nation, we mourn alongside every single family that has lost loved ones, including the families of our great veterans.”
“Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights,” he added.
WATCH LIVE: Trump makes Memorial Day speech at Fort McHenry https://t.co/NDruNUD6yo
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) May 25, 2020
Baltimore is still under a stay-at-home order, which had prompted its mayor, Jack Young, to beg the president not to come.
“That President Trump is deciding to pursue non-essential travel sends the wrong message to our residents, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus,” he said in a statement obtained by The Hill.
White House spokesman Judd Deere responded in a statement obtained by CBS News that “The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the President will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our Nation’s history.”
The Baltimore Sun reported that dozens of Trump supporters gathered outside of Fort McHenry.
The Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump retweets personal attacks on Clinton, Pelosi, Abrams Biden swipes at Trump: ‘Presidency is about a lot more than tweeting from your golf cart’ How will COVID-19 affect the Hispanic vote come November? MORE, meanwhile, made his first public appearance in more than two months by placing a wreath at a veterans park in Delaware near his home.
Over the weekend, American flags at the White House and public buildings flew at half-staff to commemorate the nearly 100,000 people who have died from COVID-19.
Updated at 1:25 p.m.
