Donald Trump, Melania attend 3 inaugural balls

Washington, January 21 (IANS) Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, attended three official inaugural balls on Friday night following his swearing-in as the 45th President of the US.   The first was the Liberty Ball held at the was attended by supporters who donated to the inauguration or purchased tickets, the New York Times reported. At his second ball of the evening, President Trump points to the crowd after dancing with his wife and the rest of the family [caption id="attachment_244439" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with the older Trump children and their spouses, attend the Liberty Ball. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with the older Trump children and their spouses, attend the Liberty Ball. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244440" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump arrive at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump arrive at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244441" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen dance at a Liberty Ball. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen dance at a Liberty Ball. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244442" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump gesture towards his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump gesture towards his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244443" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, dance at the president's "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, dance at the president's "Liberty" Inaugural Ball. REUTERS/Brian Snyder[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244444" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Commander in Chief/Salute to Armed Forces Ball. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Commander in Chief/Salute to Armed Forces Ball. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244445" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honor of his inauguration in Washington. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honor of his inauguration in Washington. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst[/caption] [caption id="attachment_244446" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump (center, L) and his wife Melania and family dance with U.S. military service members at the "Salute to Our Armed Forces" inaugural ball. REUTERS/Rick Wilking President Donald Trump (center, L) and his wife Melania and family dance with U.S. military service members at the "Salute to Our Armed Forces" inaugural ball. REUTERS/Rick Wilking[/caption] The First Couple made their entry amid applause. Melania was dressed in an ivory evening gown by designer Herve Pierre with a white ruffle cascading down the front while Trump was in a tuxedo and bow-tie.   On stage, Trump said they had managed to win despite widespread doubt.   "We did it," he said, exchanging a smile with his wife.   "We began this journey and they said we didn't have a chance but I knew we would win," Efe news reported citing the President as saying.   The couple then shared their first dance as the White House's new tenants to Frank Sinatra's "My Way". [caption id="attachment_244447" align="aligncenter" width="650"]President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump dance while attending the Inauguration Freedom Ball. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump dance while attending the Inauguration Freedom Ball. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson[/caption] In her first public remarks since becoming First Lady, Mrs Trump said she was 'honored' by the role after thanking the room of veterans and their families for their service The first couple danced with servicemen and women at the event held at the National Building Museum. The first lady wore a white gown she co-designed with Hervé Pierre, one of Carolina Herrera's former staff Trump and Pence slice into a cake on stage at the Armed Services ball on Friday night as their wives, Melania and Karen, watch Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, as well as the couples' children joined them on the stage. Nine pairs in all swayed about by the song's end, the Washington Post reported.   Minutes later, they repeated the ritual at the Freedom Ball. There, Trump addressed the crowd, declaring "We will not be taken advantage of anymore" and even asking the audience "should I keep the Twitter going? It's a way of bypassing dishonest media."   After the dance, Trump pumped his fist to lead the crowd in a chant of "USA!"   Liberty Ball was followed by the Freedom Ball also held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre.   The last was the Armed Services Ball, at the National Building Museum, had a restricted audience of only active duty and reserve military members, wounded veterans, emergency medical workers and Medal of Honour recipients.   The President addressed the crowd, saying, "you're amazing people, and I like you for a lot of reasons."   "And I also like the fact you all voted for me, right? You all voted for me," he said.   Here, Trump had a video call with US troops located in Afghanistan's Bagram Airbase.   The airbase personnel took turns congratulating Trump on his victory.   Melania Trump also addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for your service," she said. "I'm honoured to be our First Lady. We will win. And we will make America great again."   The First Couple danced to a rendition of "I Will Always Love You." Then, per tradition, they danced with service members.   Since 1809, inaugurations of US presidents have been accompanied by these traditional dances, becoming one of the biggest social galas for political leaders across the country.