Donald Trump exposes 'fragile ego' as he competes with Melania for center stage, expert

Hannah FurnellWed, October 21, 2026 at 6:35 PM UTC

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Donald Trump exposed his 'fragile ego' as he competed for attention with his wife, Melania Trump, at a recent event -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (Reach Publishing Services Limited)

Donald Trump exposed his "fragile ego" as he competed with his wife, Melania Trump, for center stage during a recent White House event, an expert said.

On Monday, October 19, the 80-year-old Commander-in-Chief and 56-year-old first lady took to the White House's Rose Garden for the signing ceremony of an executive order establishing a task force on women's health and a dedicated Women's Health Division within the National Institutes of Health. Both are Melania's latest initiatives.

Aside from the first couple's awkward interactions during the event and the resulting press conference, they also appeared to compete for center stage, according to body language expert Inbaal Honigman. This comes after Melania hinted she's "disgusted" with Donald by taking a "subtle swipe" at him.

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Honigman assessed, "When all eyes are on Melania, Donald's fragile ego tries to compete. During their initial stroll toward the Rose Garden, the couple walks side by side, but the president is just a little ahead of the first lady. He leans forward, showing that he is the one leading the relationship.

"Their positioning is much the same at the podium: they are almost shoulder to shoulder, but Donald stands slightly ahead of Melania, emphasizing his superiority. If the president can't let his wife be his equal even when they walk and stand together, then he can't accept her as his equal in official roles."

President Donald Trump appeared to compete for center stage with First Lady Melania Trump during an event for her latest initiative, a body language expert said

The body language expert added, "Even when they both raise a hand to wave, the president's hand rises a few inches higher than his wife's. Interestingly, Melania keeps hers a little lower, letting Donald take charge.

"The most interesting moment is their awkward hand-holding, when the president takes an uncomfortable Melania by the hand. Her unease is evident in the unusual angle of her bent wrist, indicating that their physical interactions are misaligned.

"One of Donald's hands is underneath Melania's, gripping and leading it, while his other hand rests above hers, asserting dominance. When a couple hold hands, the physical upper hand belongs to the more dominant person, the one who also has the upper hand mentally in the relationship."

Honigman concluded, "This awkward contact between the Trumps symbolizes the president's attempt to assert his dominance, driven by his discomfort with all the attention Melania is receiving."

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"When I heard about it, I said, 'Are you sure they don't have that? Who the hell wouldn't have a women's health division?'" Donald said about Melania's women's health initiative during the event. Melania replied, 'They don't have it.' So good job." He then added that Melania "gets it" because of her intelligence. "Look at her. You think she's easy? She's not so easy, but she's very smart."

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump shared an awkward moment during the signing ceremony

Donald then signed the order, handed the pen to Melania, and remarked, "I don't know if her signature means anything." Melania replied, "Yours is the most important," and signed the document.

The couple then shared an awkward moment, as Donald's attempt to kiss his wife of 21 years was thwarted. Donald went in to kiss Melania before she turned her head to the back, and he planted one in her hair instead. He then grabbed her hand and patted it, saying, "Good job."

Social media users were quick to comment on the moment, with one writing on X, "The hand patting is very odd," while another added, "Look at the body language. [She] immediately shifts her entire body the opposite way after Trump makes his move."

A third said, "His own wife is disgusted by him." Another added: "She clearly didn’t want to kiss him," as a fourth chimed in, "Look at the body language. Melania immediately shifts her entire body the opposite way after Trump makes his move." Meanwhile, a fifth commented, "She looks disgusted." One more also noted: "And what the hell was the hand patting/slapping? Gross."

However, others were more sympathetic. While some claimed the pair are "in love", others also suggested people are placing too much focus on the fleeting moment.

President Donald Trump went into kiss First Lady Melania Trump after signing the executive order but she appeared to dodge it

Also, before the president signed the executive order, he began boasting about renovating the White House. "Melania works so hard, you wouldn't believe it, and she's accomplished so much in a very short period of time," he said before looking around his Rose Garden, the floor of which he had replaced with stone.

"Please, and if I might, that stone is so beautiful," he began, and launched into a lengthy explanation of why the grass had to be replaced with stone. He explained that the Rose Garden had been built on a wetland that often left the grass soggy, resulting in many ruined shoes.

He then praised the custom-made cushions for the lawn chairs. "Those beautiful yellow cushions," he said, observing the Mar-a-Lago style cushions he added. "They're supposed to be half an inch high. I said, 'How about four inches?' Don't they feel nice? They don't make them in four inches. I had them specially made four inches for everybody, so it lifts you up higher, and it’s a lot more comfortable than the one-inch deal."

Donald added, "And outside, you have the new heliport that just opened, and behind you, you have one of the greatest ballrooms and military complexes—a very complex situation going on, I will tell you, but it's on time."

The attention was then turned back to Melania, who discussed a "new standard for women's health in America." She said, "Previous generations fought for women's rights. Our generation will fight to discover the cures that will ensure a woman can live her life in health and to the fullest.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”