20 January 2024 , 09:59
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Although Melania and Donald Trump appeared standing next to each other, during the funeral of Melania's mother, Amalija Knav, the couple seemed distant. As they were leaving the event, the two of them were seen getting separately in different cars.
In a clip that emerged from their latest public appearance, Melania is shown getting in a black SUV, with security guards accompanying her. Donald Trump appears standing for a while looking at her as she enters the car, and Melania turns to speak with him for a second. Then, the disgraced former US President backs off and subsequently gets in a different car.
Social media users shared the clip speculating that their separate departure from the event signifies a distance between them. "Separate cars," noted one user on X (Twitter) while others rushed to add in the comments section below: "Separate lives." Others claimed that the move was done as a security measure, with someone writing: "Standard protection detail. You do not have two primaries in the same vehicle. A better chance that one of two might survive..."
READ MORE: Melania Trump 'looks distraught' at funeral with 'deliberate lack of touch' between her and Donald
Melania Trump as she departs a funeral for Amalija Knavs, the former first lady's mother (AFP via Getty Images)However, the distance observed between Melania and Donald Trump during the funeral can be attributed to various factors, as analyzed by body language expert Judi James. According to James, the deliberate positioning of their son Barron between them suggests a conscious effort to maintain distance.
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In an interview with the Mirror, James said: "Donald and Melania have positioned their son between them rather than standing together here and Trump himself is standing rigidly to attention with his chin raised as though wanting to perform a mark of formal respect for his mother-in-law."
The couple seemed distant during the event (AFP via Getty Images)This could be a strategic decision by Melania to avoid displaying too much emotion in public, as mourning in a public setting might make individuals worry about losing composure. In this case, the lack of physical touch between the couple may be a deliberate choice to maintain a sense of formality and control during the public mourning for Melania's mother.
The expert continues: "The lack of touch here could be deliberate. When someone has to mourn in public it is common to worry that acts or comfort, support and affection can make them lose their composure completely and that might be Melania’s concern that she needs to stay in control of her emotions at this very public moment for the ex-FLOTUS."
Donald Trump stared as Melania got in a different car than him (AFP via Getty Images)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
During the funeral, both Melania and Trump displayed unusual signs of emotion, with Melania's usually composed expression appearing forced, James said. Trump, standing rigidly to attention during the formal mark of respect for his mother-in-law, later adopted a pose that reflected vulnerability, with a frown on his face and a more open body posture than usual. This emotional display from Trump is considered unusual, suggesting a personal connection and mourning for Melania's mother.
Melania, despite keeping her composure throughout most of the funeral, showed signs of emotional strain, especially during the eulogy she delivered for her mother. Her voice broke towards the end of the speech, indicating the depth of her grief. The expert analysis suggests that Melania's concern for maintaining control over her emotions in public may have influenced the deliberate distance between her and Trump during the event.
The funeral took place at the Church of Bethesda by the Sea in Palm Beach, Florida (AFP via Getty Images)James noted: "After standing rigidly to attention as a formal mark of respect for his mother-in-law’s coffin, Trump seems to have adopted a pose similar to his wife Melania here, looking much more vulnerable than usual, with his arms falling to the front of his torso and a reflective-looking frown on his face.
"This is an unusual display of emotion from Trump, who appears to be mourning Melania’s mother as a personal loss. Even with the huge shades hiding her eye expression Melania looks naturally distraught here. Her lips are parted slightly and her body posture looks uncharacteristically held in a position with her hands and arms slightly to the front of her torso."