Melania Trump has created an awkward way to smile during her recent photo opportunity with President Trump. It did not go unnoticed on Twitter and a video of the odd smile from the First Lady has been trending on social media and one netizen even called it a "hostage" smile.
On Tuesday, the Trump couple visited the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. A video of the pair that was shared online showed Trump appeared to say something to his wife before he smiled for the photographers. He then seemed to notice that Melania was not smiling.
He turned to her again and told her something. FLOTUS then forced a quick odd smile for a couple of seconds before they walked away with her husband.
As soon as the clip was shared on Twitter, many shared their opinions about Melania's awkward smile. Many think it wasn't a smile but more of a smirk to the camera. See the video below.
Others felt sympathy for Melania. One said he hopes the First Lady is okay as she looks like an unhappy and nervous battered wife in the video. Another said the clip seems like a hostage video because of Melania's body language.
Some were also reminded of how the First Couple behaves during their public appearances in the past. One compared how Melania smiles when she's with Trump to the smile she had when she sat next to former President Barack Obama at Barbara Bush's funeral or when she had a brief chat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The way Melania and Donald Trump show PDA has been the center of ridicule over the years. In many instances, the long camera lenses captured how FLOTUS seems to be uncomfortable at the side of her husband.
Meanwhile, the Trumps' visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine came just a day after the president also visited St. John's Episcopal Church for a photo opportunity where he appeared before the photographers holding a bible.
This angered religious leaders. Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the highest-ranking African American bishop in the U.S., condemned the visit. In his statement, he said he can't believe that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be misused and manipulated in a way that violates their religious principles.
Both visits in the religious places occurred amidst the protests across the country, where protesters have been demonstrating their opposition to injustice, violence, and police brutality against Black Americans.
The protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd last week. Floyd died after a Minneapolis white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck while detaining him.
Trump asks Melania to smile during today's photo op. pic.twitter.com/B59YeDHKRM — The Recount (@therecount) June 2, 2020
