
First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance expressed their gratitude to military families on Thursday in a visit at Fort Rucker, the headquarters of U.S. Army Aviation, in Alabama ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
“I want to take a moment to say thank you to one very important group of people: the families of America’s military. Your role is profound. While your loved ones are deployed, it’s up to you to keep your families strong, keep your children safe, and keep your homes full of love,” said Mrs. Trump.
The first lady acknowledged the emotional toll of military deployments, particularly during the holiday season, especially with the absence of a loved one.
“To every American watching us today: in a few weeks, you will be sitting around your Thanksgiving table in the warmth of your own home, surrounded by your loved ones, sharing a wonderful meal, and perhaps enjoying a football game on television,” Mrs. Trump said. “Take a moment to think of America’s service people and the families with an open seat at their Thanksgiving table. Those families are just as important in maintaining America’s elite status and in protecting our freedom.”
After her remarks the first lady stopped at Ellis D. Parker Elementary School, where she visited with young students in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Mrs. Trump also recognized educators who integrate technology into their teaching—a focus of the first lady’s Fostering the Future initiative.
‘Melania, the Series’ to Debut on Nov. 20
Less than a year after First Lady Melania Trump’s feature-length film Melania debuted in theaters, Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video will release its follow up Melania, the Series on November 20.
A trailer of the two-part series presented by Amazon MGM Studios was recently released and showed Mrs. Trump in settings familiar to what was filmed in her full-length feature. The series, also directed by Brett Ratner, teases never-before-told stories and insight into Mrs. Trump’s life as well as a chronicling of the days immediately following the 47th Presidential Inauguration. The series will be released in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Melania, The Series includes two episodes “Family & Trust” and “Pride & Honor.” In the first episode, Mrs. Trump sets priorities as she prepares to return as America’s first lady. But inside the White House, trust is tested, and the incoming first lady must protect those closest to her while navigating the demands of power, according to a press release.
In the final episode, “Pride & Honor,” Amazon teases that the honor of serving as first lady comes with “an immediate call to action.”
Melania, The Series is a Muse Films, New Element Media, RatPac Entertainment production. Muse Films is a production company launched by Mrs. Trump last November. Mrs. Trump and her senior adviser Marc Beckman serve as executive producers. Amazon paid $40 million to acquire the rights to the Melania feature film, which grossed $16.6 million worldwide.
The Weekly Wrap
The Weekly Wrap is a collection of headlines from the past week. Some publications have paywalls.
People
Dr. Jill Biden Gets Candid About ‘Hard’ Toll of Caregiving as Husband Joe Lives with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer
Nov. 13, 2026 – As former President Joe Biden fights stage 4 prostate cancer “like hell,” former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is opening up about their life and marriage. Read more
In Pursuit
Nancy Reagan by Ann Compton
Nov. 12, 2026 – When Ronald Reagan’s years of campaigning finally triumphed in 1980, and he was sworn in as the oldest man elected to the presidency, Nancy Davis Reagan knew exactly what her role should be—his protector. Read more
Newsweek
What New Images Reveal About Trump’s Ballroom
Nov. 12, 2026 – New aerial pictures of President Donald Trump’s ballroom have revealed how the building appears to dwarf the existing White House building. Read more
MS NOW
Meet the Man Calling Himself Melania Trump’s ‘Exclusive Senior Adviser’
Nov. 12, 2026 – Marc Beckman made his name selling sneakers, soda and fashion. Now he spends much of his time helping Melania Trump with her public image, including negotiating with Russia and producing her multimillion-dollar Amazon documentary. Read more
People
Joe Biden, in His Only New Interview, Goes on Camera with PEOPLE to Talk About Everything
Nov. 12, 2026 – Two days after the Democrats swept the midterm elections, former President Joe Biden has that signature twinkle in his blue eyes. Read more
IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
Trevor Noah Reflects on 10 Years of “Born a Crime” and the Life That Inspired It
Nov. 11, 2026 – Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson are joined by comedian, author, and former host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, for a hilarious and deeply personal conversation about growing up under apartheid in South Africa, the extraordinary woman who raised him, and the experiences that shaped his outlook on life. View here
High Stakes
High Stakes with HRC: Is the Justice Department Dead?—with Rachel Maddow
Nov. 11, 2026 – Welcome back to “the podcast from hell.” Last week, Kara and the Secretary broke down what happened during the midterms; this week, they discuss what comes next. They cover Pete Hegseth’s rare press conference as he faces impeachment proceedings. View here
The New York Times
Melania Trump’s Initiative for Women Appears at Odds With D.E.I. Crackdown
Nov. 11, 2026 – Its name and mission also overlap with a company that left the United States after the administration sought to end corporate networking programs for women and people of color. Read more

East Wing Magazine
The First Ladies Experience Is Coming Soon
Nov. 10, 2026 – The Victorian-era Saxton-McKinley home in downtown Canton, Ohio has given visitors an intimate look at its hometown former First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley for more than 25 years. On Tuesday, National First Ladies announced plans for a new flagship building—The First Ladies Experience—adjacent to the residence on its campus and designed to give people an immersive and interactive experience about America’s presidential spouses. Read more
SCOTUS Blog
Trump Administration Brings White House Ballroom Battle Back to Supreme Court
Nov. 10, 2026 – The Trump administration returned to the Supreme Court last week, once again asking the justices to intervene in its ongoing efforts to build a new White House ballroom. On Aug. 31, a divided court paused a ruling by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that would have halted above-ground construction on the project. In a petition filed on Nov. 5, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the court to reverse the lower court’s ruling outright or to take up the case and hear oral arguments on the merits. He told the justices that their earlier ruling “has all but answered the question presented” by the dispute, and that the project “should be permitted to move forward outside the shadow of judicial superintendence.” Read more

