Melania Trump
is “an object” to her husband, according to a body language expert who
analysed the behaviour of the First Family on inauguration day.
Followed by TV cameras, the US President and his wife were scrutinised constantly on the day Donald Trump was sworn in.
Many
observers remarked on the apparently cold nature of the relationship
between the couple, particularly in comparison to the Obamas.
"Melania
is an object to [Mr Trump]," said Susan Constantine, a body language
expert who has trained US government departments and top lawyers.
"I don't see any warmth or true love and compassion in that relationship whatsoever," she told Mic.
Despite
the close dancing of the President and his wife and the inauguration
ball, another body language expert, Patti Wood, told the publication the
way in which they danced was indicative of an unbalanced relationship.
The
President was “pulling her in sexually,” making contact with the pelvis
area, Ms Wood said, while Ms Trump was actually pulling away slightly
from him as they danced – indicating she didn’t want to “merge with him
as a partner”.
Another example which received more attention occurred near the beginning of inauguration day.
“It's
interesting that Trump got out of the car and came up the stairs and
shook hands instead of helping his wife out of the car, waiting for her,
or even looking back for her,” Ms Wood told the Mail Online.
This
view was echoed fully by Ms Constantine, who said: “If you didn't know
that they were married, you wouldn't know that they are married.”
Later,
at the swearing in ceremony, television cameras caught Mr Trump
apparently giving his wife only the most cursory of greetings as she
joined him shortly before what was likely the biggest moment of his
life.
I'm so glad this GIF exists. pic.twitter.com/a4BNmzfa5C— summer. (@SummerNazif) January 21, 2017
An immediate comparison could be drawn to the Obamas, with Barack warmly greeting Michelle as she joined him on stage.
Throughout his campaign, Mr Trump’s conduct with women was widely regarded as sexist and has been recorded using numerous misogynistic expressions.
And
in addition to making lewd comments about sexual harassment, a number
of women also alleged he had harassed them in the past.
On Monday, he reintroduced the Mexico City Policy,
which blocks US funding supporting family planning and reproductive
rights – a move decried as an "assault on women's health" by
campaigners.
Many
commentators are concerned that if Mr Trump has little regard for his
wife, there will be little to impede him in implementing policies
harmful to women.
