Melania Trump, 50, has been the US First Lady since Donald Trump, 74, since he became president four years ago. Melania is often seen out and about with her husband Donald when they attend public events together. A body language expert has explained how their affection has changed since they entered the White House.
Melania was a model in New York when she met her future husband at a party.
They have been in the public eye ever since they met due to him being a powerful businessman and her being a successful model.
Since living in the White House and being in the limelight more than ever, the couple’s relationship has changed according to one body language expert.
Looking at photos of the pair showing minimal public displays of affection, body language expert Judi James explained how their relationship has changed.
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Judi added: “Their poses here do look self-conscious but that would be natural for their White House e-branding as POTUS and FLOTUS with the eyes of the world on them, especially now that Trump is campaigning to save his job as President in the upcoming elections.”
In recent weeks, Melania has been seen beside her husband on multiple occasions campaigning with him for the election which is taking place next month.
However, the First Lady has grown in confidence over the years due to being in the public eye which could have benefited the relationship between the two.
Judi went on: “With the elections looming though they do seem to have developed a stronger non-verbal brand as a couple, perhaps because Melania has risen in status signaling to a position of something bordering on equality with her husband.”
As well as Melania supporting her husband in his role, she is also seen on her own supporting her own charity work which could show she sees herself as equal to the President.
The body language expert said: “The couple now tend to stride out side-by-side as though Melania is finally taking a more assertive approach and as though both she and her husband recognize her value in terms of getting him back into office.”
Whilst their affection in public is minimal, Donald will now and again provide his wife with some small gestures.
Judi continued: “Donald will now use some back-touching gestures to suggest affection for and even a sense of protection of his wife in public. The couple are also more likely to use eye contact in their poses together, too.
“Touch rituals can come cheap but eye-to-eye contact is a more powerful communicator and it is usually only used by couples who are close or like-minded in their thinking.”
This means that the couple’s body language could suggest that they are also close to each other away from the public eye.
Their displays of affection have become more prominent in recent years with hand holding becoming regularly seen when they attend public events.
Judi said: “The couple have also struggled with their hand-holding in the past but it now seems to be a mutually-approved ritual. Donald’s hand might be on top in the clasps but the way Melania’s fingers curl up around his hand shows it is a reciprocated gesture.
“If she were totally against the PDA we could see her fingers held straight or just hanging from his hand.”