Cameras caught an awkward moment of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump exiting Air Force One on Sunday evening.
Footage showed the President repeatedly trying to hold the First Lady's hand as they descended the steps. The First Lady withdrew it multiple times before the President stopped.
Watch below.
MOMENTS AGO: President Trump, First Lady Melania, and Barron arrive at Joint Base Andrews from Morristown, NJ. pic.twitter.com/f6z3m5gx8w
— The Hill (@thehill) August 16, 2020
After the couple got down the stairs, the pair eventually joined hands as they walked across the tarmac. Some defended her, claiming she only withdrew her hand to keep her dress down.
That didn't stop speculation that even the First Lady was repulsed by the President.
Melania said: one foot in front of the other, ignore his crusty hand pic.twitter.com/i36aStV7Z7
— jacq - BLM (@papi_vitiello) August 17, 2020
She really, really doesn't like him.pic.twitter.com/XzBFI8pVBH
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) August 17, 2020
Melania won't hold Trump's hand in public. Her reasons:
1) His tiny hand reminds her of a squirrel's paw
2) Fear of ketchup
3) He always murmurs "Hand thing for cameras"
4) Mike Pence told her it's a gateway drug to petting
5) Still nauseous from glimpsing him in white pants
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) August 17, 2020
Some people even joked that she might be voting for Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
She's voting for Biden. pic.twitter.com/9HckB160NL
— Derek DelGaudio (@derek_del) August 17, 2020
This was yesterday.
Who will Melania vote for?
She really hates him. pic.twitter.com/Xs52llN7kT
— NEWSNOTES (@ReportsDaNews) August 17, 2020
Melania can't wait to get out of his gig. She pushes his hand away repeatedly. Wonder who she'll be voting for with her mail-in ballot lol?
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) August 17, 2020
Others reminded viewers of the video that the First Lady has fully stood by her husband's positions, even the racist conspiracy theories regarding former President Barack Obama's citizenship.
Your daily reminder that Melania Trump is a racist birther:
pic.twitter.com/knUPRdQOAa
— PragmaticObotsUnite (@PragObots) August 17, 2020
Just a quick reminder that Melania promoted racist birtherism like her husband pic.twitter.com/dgoPpHa8eA
— avocado toast (@avotoasted) August 17, 2020
Melania is a birther who stays married to Trump by choice.
Quit painting her as some heroine just because she won't hold his hand.
She tried to sell her jewelery line on the WH website.
She's complicit.
— Laurie Crosswell (@lauriecrosswell) August 17, 2020
Trump's first term has been rife with speculation regarding his and the First Lady's relationship, especially as reports emerged of Trump's alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, just months after the birth of his and Mrs. Trump's only son, Barron.
She's also been spotted apparently swatting his hand away before.
Others were less concerned about the dynamic between the President and First Lady, focusing instead on the dynamic between the President and the country.
I don't care if Melania holds his hand. Children/immigrants STILL in cages. Thousands infected or already dead and no plan whatsoever. Global warming isn't slowing down. The economy is tanking. Education is a joke. The environment is screaming for help. You go w Hand holds?
— Jennifer WEAR-A-MASK Massey (@JenniferMoniz3) August 17, 2020
I don't care what he's trying to do to melania's hand I care what he's trying to do to our country stay focused #saveusps #savedemocracy
— The Art of Rebellion (@buginagarden) August 17, 2020
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Emmy nominee Christina Ricci was not on board. When the post hit her feed, she jumped into the comments—and chose immediate, unapologetic violence in the comment section.
@vinchenzojackal/Bluesky
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@reverend_cj/Threads
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