US President Donald Trump said he was too busy to buy First Lady Melania Trump a gift for her 55th birthday on Saturday. Therefore, he planned a romantic dinner for her aboard Air Force One instead.

The Trumps flew to Rome on Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. However, they chose not to stay for dinner in Rome. Instead, they decided to fly straight back to the United States.

Speaking to reporters, Trump admitted the celebration might not seem perfect. "She's got a working birthday," he said from the presidential plane. Notably, it was their first foreign trip since Trump returned to office.

Trump Blames His Busy Schedule

Trump explained that his busy schedule left him no time to shop for a gift. He mentioned that he was focusing on deals involving tariffs, Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza. As a result, he said, "I haven't had time to buy presents, it's been pretty busy."

When reporters asked if he planned a dinner for Melania, he replied, "I'm taking her for dinner on the Boeing -- I'm taking her for dinner on Air Force One."

Afterward, he joked about sending Melania to face reporters, calling them the "lion's den."

The Trumps Make a Rare Joint Appearance

Earlier that day, Trump and Melania boarded Air Force One together. They left from a military base near Washington. Melania wore a tan trench coat and dark sunglasses.

Since Trump returned to power, the couple has mostly lived apart. In fact, Melania spends most of her time in New York, where their son Barron, 19, is attending university.

Nevertheless, they have made a few public appearances together. For example, they hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

They Spent Her Birthday Apart Last Year

Last year, they celebrated Melania’s birthday separately. Melania stayed in Florida, while Trump attended a trial in New York. The case involved payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

At that time, Trump said, "It'd be nice to be with her, but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial."