So This Is Why Donald Trump Avoids Holding Melania's Hand In Public

BY Katie Rosseinsky | Posted on 06 02 2017

After Donald Trump awkwardly rejected his wife Melania’s attempts to hold his hand last week, one body language expert claims that there is more to the new President’s behaviour than just an aversion to PDA.

In Melania’s first public appearance since her husband’s inauguration last month, the new first couple stepped off Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, ready to visit Trump’s resort at Mar-A-Lago.

Initially the pair held hands, before the President broke away in order to clap along with a group of supporters who had gathered on the tarmac. After Melania reached out to take his hand once again, Trump appeared to awkwardly pat his wife’s hand before dropping it completely.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, body language expert Patti Wood puts Trump’s dismissive behaviour down to his overwhelming desire to be seen as an ‘alpha’ male who stands alone.

‘Typically a hand-hold shows a couple as a unit,’ Wood explains. ‘But to me, I think he’s saying, “I want to be seen as the President on my own,” which is very much alpha. “I want to be just the powerful me.” And it’s clear that that’s his choice.’

‘Holding hands can communicate so much about an individual and a couple, depending on the position of the hands, who reaches in first, who breaks it first,’ she continues.

While Trump’s less-than-reassuring patting gesture seemed to be offered as a consolation to his wife, Wood doesn’t see it as affectionate behaviour.

‘It could’ve been affection if he’d cupped his hand, if he’d done it with sweetness, or if he had kissed her and done it,’ she explains. ‘He pulls it up towards him, it has some admonishing to it, some power, and then he has that flat hand to say, “No no.”’

‘He doesn’t want to do it in public. It’s very clear that she does, she would like that,’ she continues. ‘That would make her feel connected and she would get some of that power and confidence and he’s saying, “No, not in public”’