At Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, one moment with his wife, Melania, stood out. The 45th and 47th President of the USA attempted to kiss Melania on the cheek before the ceremony, but the interaction became awkward when he seemed to pull back at the last moment. Some observers suggested that Melania’s large black hat might have prevented the kiss, leading to confusion and surprise. After this, Trump went on to shake hands with 46th President Joe Biden, but the awkward exchange with Melania remained a topic of discussion.
Body language expert Inbaal Honigman analyzed the moment, offering insight into the couple’s dynamic. She suggested that Trump seemed unsure how to show affection to his wife in such a public setting. Honigman compared Trump’s behavior with Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, which appeared more personal and affectionate. She noted that Melania’s body language was notably different from her husband’s more open gestures, describing her as still and neutral, maintaining a model pose with a neutral expression, and not drawing attention to herself. This demeanor was in stark contrast to her more engaging and friendly persona during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, where she flashed smiles and appeared warmer.
Honigman speculated that part of the awkwardness was caused by Melania’s hat, which may have hindered their ability to interact naturally. She suggested that Melania could have slightly angled her face to present her cheek to Trump, or he could have bent down to reach her cheek, but neither made the effort. According to Honigman, their uncertain interaction conveyed that the couple didn’t respond naturally to one another in that moment.
Beyond the inauguration, Trump made several notable moves. He signed an executive order delaying a TikTok ban in the U.S., claiming that the decision was a result of his efforts. In a statement, he promised to implement the largest deportation program in American history, targeting criminals and saying he would restore order to cities invaded by criminals. He also promised to push for government transparency by releasing records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..
In foreign policy, Trump expressed interest in the ownership of Greenland, claiming it was necessary for national security and calling for the territory to become part of the U.S. He also proposed changes to birthright citizenship, planning to end the automatic granting of citizenship to those born in the U.S., and vowed to use executive orders to bypass Congress in many cases.
Trump’s views on environmental policies also came to the forefront. He promised to terminate the Green New Deal, referring to it as the “Green New Scam,” and vowed to rescind funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. He also expressed intentions to target the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate, saying he would work to reverse policies that incentivize electric car production, though he acknowledged the process might take a couple of days.
Additionally, Trump announced plans to provide green cards for foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges, allowing them to stay in the country if they graduate with top degrees. He also expressed his opposition to critical race theory in schools, promising to sign an executive order to cut federal funding to institutions promoting such ideologies.
In the midst of all these plans, Trump’s stance on the 2020 election remained a topic of interest. He made clear he would not cooperate with special counsel Jack Smith, stating he would fire him immediately upon taking office. Overall, Trump’s first day in office is expected to involve a flurry of executive actions aimed at fulfilling his promises and setting a clear direction for his second term.
