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Melania Trump Did NOT Look Amused During SOTU & There Are So Many Photos
Viewers tuning in to President Trump's first State of the Union address had a field day interpreting First Lady Melania Trump's less-than-thrilled body language during the speech. Melania's reaction to the State of the Union address came after a minor drama when she arrived separately from the president.
FLOTUS hasn't commented on her husband's speech, but prior to her arrival Melania tweeted:
I will be joined tonight by an honorable group of Americans. Sitting with me are heroes who have served our nation in times of need, families who have suffered at the hands of evil, and citizens who have embraced the American dream.#SOTU
Melania's body language during the actual State of the Union address appeared a lot less enthusiastic and viewers were quick to point that out.
When she arrived at House of Representatives chamber, Melania took the time to stop, wave, and smile at the attendees applauding her as she descended the stairs. But the cameras didn't stop rolling after she settled into her spot at the traditional first lady's seat. The camera panned to her later, showing a much more somber-looking, stone face.
Her entrance at the State of the Union address marked Melania's first public appearance since the Wall Street Journal reported an allegation her husband Trump paid hush money to a pornographic film star "Stormy Daniels." Prior to the 2016 election, Trump's lawyer reportedly arranged a $130,000 payment to the adult film actress to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she allegedly had with Trump in 2006, a year into his marriage with Melania. Daniels denies the affair.
The New York Times reported the private first lady had been "blindsided" by the Jan. 12 report and was "furious" over Trump's alleged infidelity, the paper reported. Following the report, Melania canceled a trip to Switzerland with her husband, instead made an unannounced visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and then flew to Mar-a-Lago to relax at the spa. Melania's spa day at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida reportedly cost taxpayers $64,000.
During Trump's State of the Union address, Twitter users were quick to comment on Melania's reactions.
She did not seem to react when Trump mentioned the first lady. Even the most amateur of body language readers couldn't help but notice that something seemed amiss.
Melania's facial expression competed with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's "not impressed" face for least amused at Trump's speech.
Although really, both Pelosi and Melania would have to compete with the Congressional Black Congress for the "Not Feeling It" Award during the 2018 State of the Union.
Melania's all-white pantsuit also made a statement. Trump fans boasted that the first lady "wore it better" than famous pantsuit-wearer and Trump rival Hillary Clinton. Melania's white pantsuit was also a stark contrast to the female congressional Democrats who wore all black, inspired by the #MeToo protest at the Golden Globes.
Even how Melania arrived sparked some mild drama. Breaking a longstanding tradition, Melania traveled to the State of the Union address separately from Trump. That's a change from last year when Barack and Michelle Obama traveled together in the same vehicle for Obama's final State of the Union address.
For the short motorcade ride up Pennsylvania Avenue, Melania chose instead to ride with guests she invited to share her first lady's box. She and Trump invited 15 special guests, including an Iraq War veteran, an ICE agent, a police officer, and the parents of two girls who were murdered by the MS-13 gang in New York.
"Mrs. Trump is honoring her guests for the true heroes they are," said the first lady's communications director Stephanie Grisham in a public statement. Grisham said Melania and Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, hosted a meet-and-greet with guests before Trump's speech.