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Melania Trump, the first lady of the United States, just celebrated her 49th birthday on Friday. But netizens and a body language expert find some details in the White House official greeting and their private birthday dinner quite unusual.
The White House official social media channels have a very simple birthday greeting for Mrs. Trump. A simple "Happy birthday, FLOTUS" message along with a photo that many netizens deem was a peculiar choice.
Happy Birthday, @FLOTUS! pic.twitter.com/qwUwcod5LC
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2019
The photo in question shows Mrs. Trump sitting alone in a fairly big couch with a horde of journalists and photographers within a few feet distance. Unsurprisingly, that open space in the said couch was seen as an opportunity by netizens to make a number of memes.
Meanwhile, body language expert Patti Wood suggests there could be a deeper message here given that, out of many pictures of Mrs. Trump at their disposal, the White House chose this one. “That’s the most interesting [thing] because she’s communicating to the world that she’s all by herself on her birthday,” Wood told Refinery29. “That’s the most dramatic aspect of this whole story. If you’ll look at her facial expression, with the tight lips, and the fact that she’s not looking directly at the camera, that is suppressed anger.”
Wood further explained, “It’s the fact that she’s sitting on the corner of the couch, to make it clear she’s by herself. That’s the most significant part.” Mrs. Trump might be alone on the couch but her husband, U.S. President Donald Trump, was in the same room when the photo was taken. The chosen image just happens to be of a different angle.
Netizens also found it strange when Mr. Trump confirmed that they invited Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe for Mrs. Trump’s birthday dinner. The President revealed that it was his suggestion to invite Mr. and Mrs. Abe. While many find it strange, Mr. Trump insisted that FLOTUS loved the idea and responded to him with, “I can’t think of anybody I’d rather have.”
