Donald Trump addressed Congress and the American people tonight for the first time since being elected for his second non-consecutive term as President.
In the chamber, his older children were seen showing support, along with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. However, his youngest son, Barron Trump, was not in attendance.
As the couple made their way to the Capitol, cameras captured an awkward moment. Melania appeared to struggle to free her hand from Donald’s grip as they walked toward the presidential limo.
At one point, she raised her arm before yanking her hand away, making it clear that she wanted to let go.
Viewers watching the broadcast quickly noticed the moment and took to social media to react. Many joked about the situation, with one person asking, “How much extra is Melania Trump getting paid to hold Donald’s hand?”
This isn’t the first time the First Lady has been seen avoiding public displays of affection with her husband. Over the years, there have been multiple moments caught on camera where she appears to swat his hand away.
During his January inauguration, some even speculated that her choice of a wide-brimmed hat was intentional—as it made it difficult for Trump to kiss her on the cheek.
One of the most famous incidents happened in 2017, when cameras captured Melania pushing away Donald’s hand during a public event.
The moment became so well-known that late-night host Stephen Colbert created a spoof video titled “The Best of Melania’s Presidential Hand Swats.”
While the reason behind these moments remains unclear, they continue to spark conversations online.