A BODY language expert has revealed Donald Trump and his wife Melania’s “rare” PDA at the Pope’s funeral – with eye contact, jokes and “touching” moments.
The First Lady and the President appeared unified as they walked through the Vatican hand-in-hand to mourn the pontiff’s death on Saturday.
Melania maintained a solemn expression and remained at Trump’s side for the day until they boarded the Air Force One after the service.
She even guided him through avoiding an awkward encounter with world leaders during the three-hour catholic mass.
Body language expert Judi James analysed the couple’s interactions throughout the ceremony, revealing that Trump’s tactile behaviour towards his wife was due to a number of personal reasons.
She told The Sun: “I think that [Trump] was very aware that it was also his wife’s birthday, and also he seemed very mindful of the fact that Melania did seem to be in a reasonable state of mourning.”
Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday also coincided with Melania’s 55th birthday.
The First Lady has been crucial in Trump’s term so far – from keeping civil with fellow world leaders to guiding her husband in social etiquette.
But Trump’s affection toward his wife was also captured before the funeral, with the couple sharing a rare moment on Friday evening as they boarded the Air Force One.
He wrapped his arm around Melania’s waist as they departed the White House, with the Republican revealing that they would have a dinner onboard the aircraft.
Trump told reporters: “She’s going to have a great birthday. She’s got a working birthday.
“I’ll take her for dinner on the Boeing. I’ll take her for dinner on Air Force One.”
Melania, who is the second Roman Catholic first lady after John F. Kennedy’s wife Jacqueline, also appeared emotional at the pope’s funeral, perhaps making Trump more affectionate than usual.
Judi revealed: “When they stood in front of the coffin, we could see him place an arm round her to get her into position. He was much more tactile with her.”
And upon being sat front row at the historic ceremony, Judi added that it was clear the loved-up pair “caught one another’s eyes”.
She added to The Sun: “He spoke to her. He made a smile, he made a laugh.
“And although that might be normal for most couples, for those two, that is quite a rare event. So they were very warm together.”
One key moment caught on camera between the pair was when Melania whispered into her husband’s ear, potentially to avoid an awkward moment with fellow world leaders.
During the three-hour catholic mass to pray for Francis, the world leaders were encouraged to shake hands with each other and offer a “sign of peace”.
As foreign dignitaries began moving around to shake hands with their counterparts, Trump was seen standing still.
It was at that moment that his wife Melania is said to have “come to his rescue”, apparently whispering four golden words into his ear that reportedly got Trump to move around and shake hands with others.
Forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Mail that Melania may have whispered “you should do it”.
Body language expert Judi supports the claim of the First Lady guiding her husband, explaining she “had to remind or explain to her husband what this is all about”.
TRUMP AND ZELENSKY’S ‘ICONIC’ POSE
Trump and Zelensky were pictured meeting for the first time since their historic White House spat just before the late pontiff’s final farewell.
The impromptu meeting took place inside the holy St Peter’s Basilica with the pair both pulling up chairs to have an intense one-on-one conversation.
The pair were spotted with French President Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer while the chairs were being set up for the meeting.
Judi also analysed this “iconic” moment, revealing to The Sun that the “whole message” of the two seated in front of one another – especially at the pope’s funeral – was “about peace”.
She said: “Although this pose may have looked at first glance like two men locking horns, there was an element of the head closeness, and some of the eye contact, that could have suggested they were in an enduring battle between the two of them.
“But looking at their body language and looking at overall, plus the kind of smaller micro details, it looked to me very much as though these were two men having a very colluded discussion.
“They look like to me two grand masters playing a game of chess, and I think that might be symbolic of the kind of discussion that’s going on right now.”
The pair’s meeting marks the first time the two leaders have spoken since their infamous Oval Office spat in February.
Judi said that, compared to the historic incident where Zelensky appeared “slightly shell shocked” and Trump was “in a state of aggressive arousal,” the pair were on the same level.
She added: “What we saw from the body language at the Vatican was two men presenting more as equals, and I think that was very important. It’s the mirroring of the body language.
“Nobody’s chest is puffed, their backs are hunched to get an intimate conversation which would have been hard because the setting is almost bizarre.
“They appeared to be listening to each other. There was no state of power posturing or aggressive arousal for Trump. He didn’t look as though he was trying to prove anything here.
“The way that he sat with his hands clasped and his head slightly lowered, suggested that he was prepared to listen.”
Zelensky said it was a “good” 15-minute meeting that has the “potential to become historic”.
After the funeral, he said: “We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people.
“Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.
“Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”
The White House also described it a “very productive discussion”.
Despite both parties leaving feeling positive that a ceasefire could be reached imminently to stop the bloody war in Ukraine, Judi believes their body language suggests there’s “still a little bit of a way to go”.
The expert revealed: “[There’s] still some bumps in the road.
“Trump’s feet were pushed under his chair, he was on his toes.
“That suggested to me that there’s a desire for sort of nimble thinking, maybe slight flexibility, that he’s prepared to sort of duck and dive in a way to get this thing sorted.
“Whereas with Zelensky he had his feet out -and they were what’s called planted.
“They were flat on the floor, and that gave a look, because the way that our feet meet the floor meet the ground is very indicative of our confidence, and and how flexible we’re prepared to be.
“So the flat feet that were very planted did slightly give the impression that he was less likely to change his position on some of the points.
“But overall it looked very positive.”
Trump’s seven-point peace plan
THE US has drafted up a seven-point plan which, it hopes, will draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia.
A source with knowledge of the plan revealed the content of the main points, reports The Telegraph:
- Immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
- Direct talks between Ukraine and Russia
- Ukraine to be barred from joining Nato
- US to formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea
- US to give de-facto recognition of four Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia along current lines of control
- Ukraine to sign minerals deal to share profits on natural resources with the US
- All US sanctions lifted on Russia and both countries co-operate on energy
