American statesmen have a long history of embracing the rugged outdoors. New York elite Teddy Roosevelt decided to become a cowboy, leading the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American war and later using his political heft to more than quadruple the size of protected national forests. Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service, Chester Arthur loved fishing so much that political commentators at the time made fun of him. Even George W. Bush had his brush piles.

First Ladies have brought an outdoorsiness—or at least a toughness—to the White House as well. Lou Hoover served as the president of the Girl Scouts and majored in Geology at Stanford. Michelle Obama tended the White House garden herself. Even Jackie Kennedy knew how to handle herself on a fishing boat.

Today, Donald and Melania Trump headed to Texas, where rising flood waters are choking the fourth largest city in the country. When they left Washington, the President and First Lady were dressed like two people who have never gotten dirty in their lives. Living avatars of city softness. Indoor kids.