Melania Trump visited a former slave holding facility in Ghana as part of her first major solo international trip as first lady.
NBC News reported on Wednesday that Trump said she “will never forget” her visit to the 17th Century castle, where she spent nearly an hour touring.
The castle was originally built for the trading of timber and gold by the Swedes but later became a warehouse for slaves from Africa with no hope of returning home.
{mosads}”I will never forget (the) incredible experience and the stories I heard. The dungeons that I saw, it’s really something that people should see and experience,” Trump said of the visit.
Trump reportedly spent roughly 10 minutes inside a dungeon where male slaves used to be housed, and then toured a pathway in the castle that led to the “Door of No Return,” which was where slaves were shipped to further hardship.
Trump also laid a wreath at the castle before departing and observed a moment of silence.
“It’s very emotional,” she said, before adding that the castle is a “special place.”
Former President Obama toured the same castle back in 2009 and said the former slave holding facility was a reminder of “the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.”
The first lady’s visit comes months after it was reported President Trump referred to immigrants from Haiti and African countries as coming from “shithole countries” and suggested the U.S. should bring in more immigrants from countries such as Norway.