Donald Trump and Melania put on 'awkward' display as former First Lady tries to 'avoid' hand-holding – The Mirror
Body language expert Judi James tells The Mirror that Donald Trump is ‘like a knotweed’, and that Melania was late to hold his hand because she might have preferred to avoid it
Melania Trump was either not expecting or avoiding her husband's hand-holding invitation during a joint appearance of the couple at a fundraising event, according to a body language expert.
Disgraced former President Donald Trump was accompanied by his wife at a $250,000-per-person gala hosted by hedge fund billionaire John Paulson and his fiancée Alina de Almeida at their home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Body language expert Judi James commented on the couple's appearance suggesting that Melania looked like a "well-groomed" plant, while Donald Trump was "more like knotweed," an invasive weed that usually grows on roadsides.
Judi James told The Mirror : "If Melania were a plant she’d be Topiary: well-groomed, well-manicured and with not one move, expression or hair out of place. Her husband though would be more like Knotweed: dominant, dishevelled and hard to budge once it’s taken root."
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The expert saw a contrast in the duo's body language that, she said, created "awkward-looking moments" as "it always has." She added: "Trump likes to play it by ear and he seems to value the odd PDA with his wife while Melania will happily stick to a more studied elegance, even swatting Trump’s proffered hand away in the past."
James also spoke on Donald Trump's invitation to hold Melania's hand, to which Melania appeared to respond with a slight delay. The expert said: "[Melania] smiles and poses in a very FLOTUS manner here with their guests while Trump leans across, apparently sharing what looks like a joke."
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She added: "On arrival Melania’s expression is looking rather fierce and as Donald holds his hand out to clasp hers in an emphatic ‘announcement’ gesture, Melania’s hand appears to be coming out of her pocket in a delayed response suggesting she was either not expecting the hand-hold that ensued or maybe preferring to avoid it."
The lavish event comes as the presidential campaign of US President Joe Biden reported a huge cash advantage over Trump last month, raising $90million in March.
In hopes of closing the gap with Biden, Trump pulled out all the stops at his Florida mansion and invited plenty of special guests, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum – who are both rumoured to be among Trump's top picks for vice president.
The invite list includes a number of wealthy political figures and financial backers, including billionaire hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, his daughter Rebekah Mercer, casino mogul Steve Wynn and wife Andrea, oil tycoon Harold Hamm, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, and grocery store chain CEO John Catsimatidis, according to the Daily Mail. 
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