Two Experts Analyse Donald and Melania Trump's Body Language Over the Years
After two hand swats and an iconic face fall, the people want to know: just what the hell is going on with Donald and Melania? It's not like their relationship hasn't raised eyebrows before. But was it always like this? Well, sort of.
We asked two body language experts to look into how their interactions with each other have changed since they started dating.
Donald and Melania in 1999
This photo was taken in March 1999, at the beginning of their relationship (and a few months before Donald Trump's divorce from Marla Maples was finalized.) "What's significant here is he's showing an ownership gesture by having his arm around her like that," said Patti Wood, body language expert. "He is confident and proud and wants to be seen as a unit with her, and he's got that look of pride, alpha pride."
Melania, however, has a "double cross" with her arms and legs. And while that could partly be to keep her short skirt in order, Wood says the gesture is "pretty strong in that she doesn't want to be seen as too sexual, and is closing herself off sexually slightly to him."
Donald and Melania at the Paramount Hotel's 10th Anniversary Party in 2000
A year later, they have much the same dynamic. "That touch on her forearm, that's a modified ownership cue, but it shows more tenderness because it's not a heavy grip," says Wood. What's notable here is that they're looking at each other, and appear engaged in conversation. "This is probably what their baseline was."
Donald and Melania at a Mets game in 2000
"She's not looking super happy and neither is he," said Wood. Is that the result of a boring ballgame, or because they're getting bored with each other?
Donald and Melania at a Manolo Blahnik Exhibition in 2003
From about this point on, it was rare to find a photo of the two in which Melania was smiling. There are some candid shots, but when she's posing, she's giving her best Blue Steel. Donald, on the other hand, is very happy here. "He's showing his front teeth, for men that's a joyful smile," said Wood. And while Melania is looking a bit tense, she still has "happy eyes."
Donald and Melania at a Men's Health Magazine party in 2004
"She's contained and he's all over her," said Dr. Lillian Glass, a communications consultant. Wood agrees, and calls Donald's posture "very unusual." She argues this shows Donald is very comfortable with being sexual with Melania, while she's less enthused. "They're definitely a couple, definitely a sexual couple, but she's not super comfortable with the fact that he is surrounding her like that," said Wood.
Donald and Melania in Florida in 2005
Even though Melania is looking tenser as the years go on, there are moments of affection. "She's totally leaning in towards him, they're looking in the same direction, which is a great thing," said Dr. Glass. "He's touching her at the wrist, which is very close."
Donald and Melania at the ballet in 2008
Melania is smiling here, but it appears to be a very tense smile. And while Donald has his arm around her, he's not leaning in or smiling. It seems like they're just giving the photographer what they want.
Donald and Melania at Wollman Rink in 2011
Almost 12 years into their relationship, Dr. Glass says "you can see the breakage." There is tension in both their faces, and they're not leaning together. Again, it could be boredom or the fact that it's cold outside. But let's face it, they both look pissed.
Donald and Melania at the Final Iowa Campaign Rally in 2016
Have two people ever looked like they didn't want to kiss each other more than in this photo? "It's not even a direct kiss, it's more of a kiss for the camera," says Dr. Glass. The moment feels forced, like they know they have to perform for the crowd, but there's no intimacy.
Melania at Donald Trump's Inauguration
Ahh, the face fall heard 'round the world. Some argue that Donald was actually talking to Ivanka when he turned around, and that Melania's reaction was actually about her stepdaughter, but given that she wasn't going to be moving into the White House, and that Donald had rudely walked ahead of her when meeting the Obamas earlier that day, everything added up to her being generally miserable.
Donald, Melania and Barron walking to Marine One in March 2017
"It's such a bizarre hand hold," said Wood,"because she's going in to interlace her hands with his, but he's giving her a fist, and he's refusing it with a fist, which a symbolic weapon." He's giving no signal that he wants to be seen as a unit with her—a big change from when they first began dating. "He's not even [holding her hand] to be that way in front of his son, to me that's significant."
The Hand Swat, May 2017
Initially, Dr. Glass argued that Melania swatting Donald's hand away was out of respect. They had just arrived in Israel, and Dr. Glass says holding hands would have been disrespectful to the Orthodox Jewish tradition. However, Melania went on to do the exact same thing when they landed in Rome (and has also gotten out of his hand holds before). "So there is definitely some breakage in that relationship," said Dr. Glass.
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