WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpis heading to North Carolina on Friday to celebrate members of the special forces who stormed into Venezuela on the third day of the New Year andwhisked away that country's leader, Nicolás Maduro, to face U.S. smuggling charges.
First ladyMelania Trumpwill also be making the trip to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world by population, to spend time with military families.
Trump has been hitting the road more frequently to states that could play key roles in November's midterm congressional elections, including astop before Christmas in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The White House has been trying to promote Trump's economic policies, including attempts to bring down the cost of living at a time when many Americans are becomingincreasingly frustrated with Trump's efforts to improve affordability.
The presidentspoke at Fort Bragg in Juneat an event meant to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. But that celebration was overshadowed by his partisan remarks describing protesters inLos Angelesas "animals" and his defense of deploying the military there.
Trump has since deployed the National Guard to places like Washington and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as other federal law enforcement officials involved in his crackdown on immigration. Trump'sborder czar,Tom Homan, announced Thursday that the administrationis endingtheoperations in Minnesotathat led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.
This time, Trump's visit is meant to toast service members involved in his administration's dramatic ouster of Maduro, an operation he has described as requiring bravery and advanced weapons.
His administration has since pushed forbroad oversightof the South American country's oil industry. Next month, heplans to convenea gathering of leaders from a number of Latin American countries in Florida, as the administration spotlights what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.
The March 7 gathering can give Trump a chance to further press a new and aggressive foreign policy which the president hasproudly dubbedthe "Donroe Doctrine," a reference to 19th-century PresidentJames Monroe's beliefthat the U.S. should dominate its sphere of influence.