Melania Trump showed “very little reciprocal liking” towards Donald Trump as he addressed his supporters after clinching key swing states in the US Presidential election, a body language expert claims.
Mrs Trump was by the former President’s side as he hailed “the greatest political movement of all time.”
But speaking on behalf of betting firm Spin Genie, media psychological coach and body language guru Darren Stanton claimed Melania offered subtle clues that her smiles were “contrived”, and that she showed “no emotion” as they embraced.
Analysing the future two-time First Lady’s demeanour as she appeared on stage, he said: “With Melania, there’s still a reluctance from her. She smiles on stage but it appears to be a fake smile. She’s smiling because she has to, rather than instinctual.
“There was very little reciprocal liking, there was very little tacitness, no hugs, or being really close to each other, they’re pretty distant with no obvious signs of affection,” he added.
During the speech at Trump’s sprawling Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the former star of The Apprentice paid tribute to his wife of almost 20 years and stepped away from the podium to kiss her on the cheek.
Stanton said footage of the interaction “shows a real disparity in emotion”.
“If you look at Melania, most people would reciprocate,” he said, adding: “There’s no emotion coming from her, they are husband and wife, but it feels like a false greeting.
“Her head’s up which is almost like a gesture of defiance, she is reluctant to reciprocate the action. There’s no passion, she doesn’t want to be there and doesn’t like showing emotion towards him, but instead prefers to maintain her own composure,” Stanton claimed, adding: “He is doing all the work here.”
Trump has since officially won the election after securing 279 out of 538 electoral college votes to his opponent the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’s 223 at the time of writing, with four results to go.
The former President passed the 270-mark needed to win the contest with wins in major swing states including Pennsylvania, which have been the focus of campaigning for both parties in the months leading up the vote.
Sir Keir Starmer has joined other world leaders in congratulating the Republican on his “historic election victory”.
The Prime Minister said the special relationship between the UK and the US will “continue to prosper”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump in the past and once branded him as a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser”, also congratulated the Republican.
He said: “The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.
“We look forward to working with you and JD Vance in the years ahead.”
