A body language expert has revealed what First Lady Melania Trump was really thinking during Saturday’s military parade in honor of her husband’s birthday, and pointed out that Marco Rubio seemed ‘bored’ during the extravagant event.
Donald Trump watched the grand parade from the south side of the White House to see 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks stroll down Constitution Avenue on his 79th birthday.
Body language expert Judi James told DailyMail.com that Melania’s nonverbal communication with her husband during the parade ‘suggests some tension’ between the presidential couple.
‘Her left hand seems to perform a small ritual that suggests inner tension, or she lifts it to preen her hair as it wafts in the breeze,’ James said.
‘When Donald talks to her she becomes more animated, leaning quickly sideways to listen and smile.’
In an unusual display of affection between the president and first lady, Melania held her husband’s hand during the parade.
James noted that the First Lady was more rigid than her husband, ‘almost mirroring the military pose of Pete Hegseth on Trump’s other side.’
Demonstrations across the country eclipsed the event as Americans attended ‘No Kings’ rallies protesting against Trump’s parade and his unprecedented use of the National Guard to intercept protests against his immigration policies.
James told DailyMail.com that Trump could’ve been slyly downplaying his status during the parade as a response to accusations from protesters that he thinks of himself as a king or a dictator.
‘His jacket is unbuttoned which looks decidedly casual as he stands between a military audience and his air-fist ritual as he walks on looks like a tempered version of a victory salute to the crowds,’ James said.
She noted that the first lady on the other hand, opted for a more formal attire in a cream, double-breasted, tailored power suit.
James argued that Trump’s typical suit was an effort to distinguish himself from the military personnel at the parade.
‘When Trump is seated, it looks like another day in the White House office,’ James continued.
‘While Melania performs a wide, Duchenne smile, his smile is the lip-clamped, acknowledging version and his posture slumps as he rests his elbows on his thighs and splays his knees with his hands forming a downward steeple gesture.’
James added that Trump didn’t try to assimilate with the military parade and came to honor them instead of mirroring them.
As the parade continued, James noted that Trump’s ‘levels of enthusiasm’ increased.
‘He’s now standing to salute in a frozen pose for long periods of time and has invented a new form of military greeting where he salutes with his right hand and performs a low air-punch with his left, suggesting a very strong desire to both honor and connect with the troops in a friendlier gesture of support.’
The body language expert also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was ‘sitting grim-faced with one arm hooked over the back of his chair.’
Rubio even let out a huge sigh at one point, which might’ve suggested he was bored during the parade.
The event fell short of early attendance predictions and lost the center of attention amid nationwide unrest and the attempted assassination and assassination of two elected officials in Minnesota.
Nevertheless, Trump told attendees at the end of the parade, ‘Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too.’