Melania Trump's reserved gesture – namely a handshake with husband Donald Trump after the first presidential debate ahead of the November election has stirred up an online storm. A clip shows 50-year-old FLOTUS come up to her husband and greet him with a formal handshake, with the president then casting a quick glance at his wife and then looking away, before the first couple pose for a snap. Meanwhile, POTUS’s Democratic rival Joe Biden could be seen giving his better half a warm hug as soon as the debate drew to a close.
Videos of the moment have since made countless rounds on the internet, racking up myriads of likes.
Sometimes contrasting how each expressed love speaks as much volume as words (and damnit words effing mattered tonight on stage). pic.twitter.com/0YWK4fQI9j
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) September 30, 2020
One bewildered user commented that the first lady showed "no emotion at all", with another suggesting the gesture would be more suitable for mere acquaintances, rather than "a loving couple".
Best takeaway from the debate came at the end as @DrBiden warmly greeted @JoeBiden vs the cold handshake and fake smile #Melania gave that orange clown. #Debate2020
— Mauricio 🇨🇴🇺🇸 (@MoTerps82) September 30, 2020
"Melania's prenuptial agreement mandates a handshake", a third claimed, with others tweeting more or less similar remarks:
Anyone notice that Melania so loved her 'husband' so much that she got a handshake from him. LOL
— Thom Simone (@ThomSimone) September 30, 2020
Jill gives her husband a hug and a kiss and Melania offers up a reluctant handshake. Bruh. #PresidentialDebate @NPR @debates
— Samantha. (@Kitticatmeow1) September 30, 2020
However, a number of others assumed the handshake appropriate for the event.
"Melania showed decorum. It is how I would act under the same circumstances", one Twitterian noted.
The widely chewed-over moment between the married couple came soon after Melania hit the headlines as she was seen "dodging kisses" from her husband at a campaign speech in North Carolina last month. Earlier, there were also quite a few occasions since POTUS was inugurated in 2017, when clips of "snubs" and horrified looks between the pair entered the spotlight.
