KEY POINTS

  • Donald Trump and Melania Trump's awkward photo op sparked concerns from Twitter users
  • Twitter users were worried for the FLOTUS because she looked "terrified"
  • A former political aide claimed that the first lady wanted to divorce the president

Melania Trump and Donald Trump's awkward photo op has prompted a number of reactions from the netizens.

The president and the first lady have been been married for 15 years already. They have spoken about their marriage several times, saying that they have a “great relationship.”

However, there are several instances when the POTUS and FLOTUS seem to be at odds with each other. For instance, earlier this year, the FLOTUS sparked marital rumors because her facial expression changed when Trump reached out to hold her hands.

On June 2, Trump and Melania visited St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington. A video taken during a photo op made the rounds online. Trump is all smiles at the camera while Melania didn’t smile at all. The POTUS kept grinning and said something to his wife who shortly after responded by showing a fake smile.

The video made some netizens worry about Melania because for them, she didn’t look fine at all. Even reporter Louise Milligan couldn’t help but comment on the clip.

“The camera can, contrary to the cliche, sometimes lie, but I have watched this over and over and there is something mesmerisingly worrying about Melania Trump’s face in this,” she wrote.

“She’s terrified like most victims of DV. I imagine she’s been crying prior to being bullied & abused into making this appearance,” another added, alleging that the FLOTUS could be a victim of domestic violence.

“Note the narcissist’s fake charming smile it gets narcissists elected, voters fall for this, look at Australia. Sadly partners of narcs are complicit.”

“Any woman who has lived with an abusive partner can easily recognise what goes on here. The dark glasses are conclusive evidence,” @CarolynGilholme wrote.

“I agree, she's terrified,” @kaiteM1 added.

Meanwhile, some didn’t mind the video because there were other photos taken at the same event in which Melania looked happy.

“If you go to her Flotus Twitter there are other pics from the same day when she looks fine and smiling easily. I reckon she just really doesn't give a s--t about any of it, it's not her bag. She probably can't stand him anymore, wouldn't be hard,” @Happylittleveg commented.

Also, many believed that if Melania were a victim of abuse, she could just walk away from her husband. Melania and Trump’s marriage has been the subject of various rumors, and they have denied all of them.

Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former political aide to the POTUS, shared her opinion about the first couple’s marriage in her 2018 book “Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House.” She claimed that Melania wanted to divorce Trump. However, her spokesperson Stephanie Grisham denied it.

US President Donald Trump, shown here with his wife Melania arriving in Palm Beach on February 14, 2020, handed control of the Trump Organization over to his sons after his inauguration
US President Donald Trump, shown here with his wife Melania arriving in Palm Beach on February 14, 2020, handed control of the Trump Organization over to his sons after his inauguration AFP / SAUL LOEB