Is Melania Trump happy? The First Lady at the heart of all media attention
For several weeks, the American media have wondered about the state of the presidential couple, after rumors of Donald Trump's infidelity.
For several weeks, the wife of the US president, Melania Trump, had deserted the media spotlight, prompting many questions and comments on the state of the presidential couple. Why did she not accompany Donald Trump abroad last week? Why was there no press release on their recent wedding anniversary? Is she happy? So, inevitably, when she appeared during Donald Trump's State of the Union address, a tradition, she was scrutinized.
Especially since it was her first public appearance and with her husband since on January 12 the "Wall Street Journal" reported the payment, during the presidential campaign, of 130,000 dollars to a former pornographic actress, Stormy Daniels, for that she should not have had sex with Donald Trump in 2006, when he had just married Melania. What the White House has denied.
From the platform reserved for her in the Chamber of Representatives, the former model did not send any clear signal about her state of mind, wearing the same austere mask on her face as in most of her public services. The smiles of the first lady were counted on the fingers of one hand on Tuesday evening. The first, the most dazzling, appeared at his entrance, facing the fine ovation launched by the parliamentarians and the rest of the public, especially Republicans. Chattering with the 12-year-old "patriot" sitting to his right and the Albuquerque cop to his left also briefly relaxed his expression.
A nod to Democrats?
Then the severity of which she is accustomed returned, forcing observers to decipher the slightest of her gestures and in particular her dress. Thus, the "New York Times" wonders: was the creamy white of his Christian Dior pantsuit a nod to the white worn last year by Democrats defending women against the new president? Was the pantsuit itself a reference to Hillary Clinton, who wore just that? Or the color worn by suffragettes, these activists for women's suffrage, during their demonstrations at the beginning of the 20th century?
And when the first lady preferred to applaud while seated during some of the dozens of standing ovations that punctuated the speech, did she wish to demonstrate the moderation of her support for her husband? "Le Monde" reports that the "Daily Beast" believes the applause was not intended for her husband, but for her husband's guests. The proof ? Not a single mention of Donald Trump during his debrief of the evening on Twitter.
Moreover, why did she arrive alone, when her predecessors arrived at the arm of their husband, wonders the BBC. Last year, she herself appeared in front of the public at the same time as Donald Trump.
Finally, what about the fact that Melania Trump went to Congress in her own vehicle, instead of the presidential limousine? Officially, it was to do more honor to the special guests of the presidential couple. But it was a break in tradition.
After the accusation of Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, Melania Trump has not publicly displayed herself with her husband to defend him, unlike previous accusations of harassment or sexual assault leveled against him.
Above all, she canceled a trip to Davos, where the US president had to go alone last week. Instead, Melania Trump took a solo tour of the Holocaust museum in Washington on Thursday, then a round trip Friday to Mar-a-Lago, to Donald Trump's private club, where she visited. at the spa.
The spokesperson for the first lady, Stephanie Grisham, denounced on Twitter information "salacious and completely false" ... "She is focusing on her family and her role as first lady", she added .
Enigmatic
Beyond the comments, everyone agrees that the American First Lady remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the White House.
Unlike her predecessors, from Barbara Bush to Michelle Obama, married for years to elected officials, nothing prepared this 47-year-old ex-model of Slovenian origin, with a pronounced accent, for plunging into the hot political bath of Washington.
The debut of Melania Trump had already raised questions. She had waited five months to follow Donald Trump to Washington, the time for their son Barron, 11, to finish the school year in New York, fueling speculation on her refusal to take on the role of first lady as on her connections. with the president.
Its popularity, however, remains lower than that of previous first ladies.
