It seems like Melania Trump has an issue about showing physical contact with President Donald Trump in public or at least holding his hand. In many instances, the First Couple is caught in an awkward moment every time Melania pulled her hand out of Trump's grasp. The most recent incident happened at the NCAA Football Championship in New Orleans.
During the opening ceremony of the LSU-Clemson College game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome earlier this week, the Trumps walked onto the field to wave to the crowd. They were also called in to lead the national anthem.
Trump held the hand of the First Lady as they walk side-by-side into the football field. While they stood at the center, the president took Melania's hand but she pulled it away. The First Lady's reaction left Trump fixing his jacket instead and smile to the audience.
The moment was caught on camera and it sparked reactions from those watching the game at the venue and at home. Many took to Twitter to share their take on the incident.
"Not that I have any sympathy for her, but same, Melania. Same," political host Brian Tyler Cohen wrote. Another commented Melania probably dug her fingernails into president's hand.
It is worth noting that this is just one of the instances wherein Melania Trump snatched her hand away from the president. The first time the public saw the First Lady refused to hold hands with the president was in Jan. 2017, on the eve of his inauguration. At the time, when the couple was descending from an airplane, Trump tried to hold hands with his wife but she refused to give her hand.
That remained unnoticed until the viral of the infamous "hand swat" came. It happened at the tarmac in Tel Aviv when the President tried to reach for Melania's hand but FLOTUS visibly swat her husband's hand away.
In Feb. 2018, Trump tried to reach for his wife's hand again while walking at the White House lawn but Melania seemingly protected herself in a long coat that was draped over her shoulders. There was an attempt again during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the White House. Trump made several attempts to hold Melania's hand until she finally gave in.
Many have also noticed the First Lady never smiles when standing next to her husband. Kate Bennett, CNN reporter and author of the book Free Melania, said it is in the Slovenian culture.
She explained that in Slovenia, where FLOTUS grew up, people don't express non-genuine smiles. Bennett added faking a smile is not a thing that Melania would do.
