On Wednesday, July 4, Donald Trump and Melania Trump hosted their second annual Fourth of July picnic at the White House, welcoming members of the military and their families. If you’ve been following the couple, you know Melania isn’t exactly known for showing much public affection toward her husband. But during this event, something unusual happened—she held his hand as he addressed the crowd from the Truman Balcony. Now, here’s the twist: just because they shared a rare moment of public affection doesn’t mean Melania was all in. According to body language expert Patti Wood, the photos reveal that Melania looked, well, let’s just say, a little uncomfortable.
View this post on Instagram@POTUS & I were honored to welcome members of our military & their families for our second military #FourthofJuly picnic at @WhiteHouse today. 🇺🇸
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What the Body Language Expert Noticed
When asked to analyze the first Instagram photo Melania posted of herself and Donald standing side-by-side on the balcony, Patti Wood had some pretty interesting insights. She told Life & Style that Melania “doesn’t look relaxed and at ease.” Now, let’s break this down. Melania’s arms are described as being “very stiff, straight, and close to her side in a more frozen-in-place position.” And here’s the kicker: Patti pointed out that they appear to be standing right next to each other, which is slightly different from their usual stance where Donald often steps out a bit in front. Patti noted that “the balcony is a more formal picture,” so she wouldn’t expect them to go all out with public displays of affection. However, she found it “interesting” that Melania “has the standard arms glued to her side and she looks so uncomfortable.”
Hand-Holding: A Gesture of Power?
Now, when it comes to the picture of the couple holding hands, Wood saw this gesture as more than just a sweet moment—it was a way for Donald to assert his dominance. “He’s holding her hand down, which is showing [he’s] superior and [in] control,” Wood explained. Here’s the thing: most of the time, Melania tends to hold back when holding hands, but in this instance, her fingers are actually wrapped around his hand. Wood found this subtle change intriguing, noting that it’s not something we typically see from Melania. This shift in behavior might suggest that she was allowing herself to be more engaged in the moment, even if it wasn’t entirely voluntary.
More Than Meets the Eye
Ultimately, Wood believed that Donald and Melania’s body language, particularly their lack of mutual eye contact, tells a much deeper story than we might initially realize. “She is turning her neck and her head to look at him and smile. It’s not a full, complete happy smile,” Patti shared. Instead, Wood described it as what she likes to call a “model smile.” You know the kind—big, bright, and perfectly posed. It’s the kind of smile that says, “Look at me, I’m happy,” even if the feeling might not be entirely genuine.
