A viral clip showing Donald and Melania Trump leaving the White House for the State of the Union has sparked fresh analysis over their unusual body language. In the video, the couple walks hand in hand toward the presidential limousine, famously nicknamed “the Beast.” Moments later, Donald drops Melania’s hand, and they move to opposite sides of the vehicle, with the president turning his attention to the press rather than his wife.
Body language expert Darren Stanton, speaking exclusively to the Irish Star on behalf of OLBG, described the interaction as “showboating” designed for presentation rather than genuine connection. He explained, “As they walk out, Trump’s posture is pointed toward the crowd, and she is pointing in the other direction; they are not matching or mirroring. It’s a very odd gesture; they are almost keeping each other at arm’s length. Why not walk hand in hand normally and then split before getting in the car? It’s distancing behavior.”
Stanton also noted that Melania’s expression didn’t appear happy, suggesting the hand-holding was primarily for the cameras, while Trump remained focused on the media.
The moment came just before Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since beginning his second term, a speech that would go down in history as the longest ever, lasting 1 hour and 48 minutes. The president opened by discussing economic progress, claiming inflation had fallen and that employment and wages had improved. He described the nation’s recovery as a “turnaround for the ages.”
However, despite these claims, Trump’s approval ratings remain low, with critics pointing to his policies especially tariffs as harmful to certain sectors. During the address, he defended his trade stance, even after the Supreme Court recently ruled against some of his measures.
The speech also touched on border security, immigration enforcement, and tensions with Iran. About 90 minutes in, Trump warned about Iran’s potential military ambitions, saying, “We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”
Throughout the evening, the president also drew attention to those in attendance who failed to stand or applaud, further highlighting the ceremonial intensity of the night.
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