Trumps tour Taj Mahal to cap off first day in India

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited the Taj Mahal on Monday, posing for photos and getting a private tour of the iconic monument to cap his first day in India.

The president and the first lady toured the grounds of the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra before entering the building itself. The U.S. delegation spent roughly an hour on site.

President Trump described the location as “incredible” and quipped to the traveling press about holding a news conference at the famous mausoleum. The president and first lady posed for photos, including one with the full Taj Mahal as a backdrop, and signed the guest book while there.

“The Taj Mahal inspires awe! A timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you India,” President Trump wrote.

The tombs at the Taj Mahal were constructed nearly 400 years ago and draw millions of visitors each year. The grounds were completely shut down in light of the Trumps’ visit and the structure was also cleaned ahead of their arrival.

White House aides joined the president and first lady for their stop at the Taj Mahal. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner — the president’s daughter and son-in-law, respectively, both his senior advisers — posed for a photo of their own in front of the building.

Senior adviser Stephen Miller and social media director Dan Scavino were among the others who posed for photos.

The president’s first day in India was heavy on fanfare and dramatic images. He received an ostentatious welcome upon landing in Ahmadabad, and he visited the home of Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarat.

President Trump also delivered a speech to a massive crowd at an event dubbed “Namaste Trump,” where he touted a newly finalized defense agreement with India and praised the country’s unity. The president made no mention of the controversy surrounding the country’s citizenship law, which favors non-Muslims.

The law, which was enacted in December, eases the path to citizenship from those who entered India illegally from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, provided they are followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism. Islam, which is practiced by hundreds of millions on the subcontinent, was excluded from the list.

Compounding tensions, the Indian government last year stripped the Muslim-majority state of Kashmir of its autonomy.

The policies have triggered at-times violent protests, which intensified in the capital city of New Delhi shortly before the Trumps were set to arrive there on Monday.

–Updated at 7:53 a.m.