President Trump made an unannounced visit to troops stationed in Iraq on Wednesday, landing after hours of speculation in Washington on his whereabouts.
Trump addressed U.S. soldiers and posed for selfies at Al Asad Airbase near Baghdad a day after Christmas. First lady Melania Trump joined him on the trip.
The visit was a closely guarded secret until after Air Force One landed, but the mysterious departure of a plane from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland triggered theories that Trump was traveling abroad.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed the trip on Twitter.
“President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas,” Sanders wrote.
–The Washington Examiner