Donald Trump appeared to be “mourning personally” during his appearance at the Pentagon, according to a body language expert. The US President travelled to the Pentagon with Melania Trump, the US First Lady, to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack on Thursday. There, 125 people were killed on the ground during the fatal attack, and a further 59 passengers and crew members died on the plane.
The poignant event took place just hours after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday. President Trump paid tribute during his appearance, and in a series of online messages. Body language expert Judi James said that his sadness was reflected in his demeanor during his speech. She told The Express: “Trump arrives with Melania looking wearied by sadness here. He appears like a man who is mourning personally, and his exaggerated mouth shrug seems to confirm that.
“His speech shows a relentless state of a subdued sadness that reflects in his demeanor here.
“He holds Melania’s hand and refers to her in his speech and he is very solicitous of her here, putting a hand out to guide her and changing hands but sustaining the touch or mimed touch rituals to look gallant.”
President Trump announced at the Pentagon ceremony that he will be awarding Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. While no date has been set, the US President said he had no doubt there will be a “very big crowd” to honour him, and that he was “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people”.
Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, also said: “Charlie, we love you, we know that you have heard the Lord’s words.”
He added: “Like those on 9/11, you’ll never be forgotten.”
Officials continue to hunt for the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk. Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said during a press briefing this afternoon that, after the shooting, the suspect moved across a building, and jumped off its roof. They then fled off campus into a neighbourhood.
Mr Mason also revealed that the chief suspect appeared to be “of college age”.
He added the suspect “blended in well with the college institution”, saying: “We’re not releasing many details right now. We will soon. But right now, we’re not.”
A huge manhunt is still ongoing to find the individual.
