Donald Trump and Melania’s recent interaction has netizens worrying for their marriage yet again. Speculation about the Trumps’ marriage has been fueled for months now. From Melania’s absence at the White House to her distant gestures towards her husband, the rumors have gotten increasingly worse.
Here’s another moment to add to the long list.
The President and the First Lady recently attended the premiere of Les Misérables. A moment that the couple shared from the event held at the Kennedy Center caught the attention of netizens
This is the first time the couple has graced the Kennedy Center with their attention after Trump declared himself the chairman. Melania and the President were both dressed down to the nines in their black tie apparel.
The couple was photographed in a rather awkward hand-holding state while the two got into the car to get to their destination. Melania seemed to be leading her husband with not an outstretched hand but a singular thumb.
Trump, on the other hand, seemed to be grasping onto Melania’s thumb with several fingers. It didn’t take long for the awkward photo to go viral on the internet. Netizens were quick to troll the Trumps and their marriage over the image.
The incident comes after many have been speculating about how Melania “hates” her husband. “She can’t wait until her mission is over,” one user wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Another time that netizens could not help but wonder if the couple’s marriage was on the rocks was when they visited Israel. Netizens and media outlets both noticed how the FLOTUS swatted away Trump’s hand when he tried to hold it in Tel Aviv.
Watch Melania Trump swat away President Trump’s attempt to hold her hand as the couple arrives in Israel https://t.co/2mZnWqc3dL pic.twitter.com/MBiysSYJj1
— People (@people) May 22, 2017
The scene unfolded at the Ben Gurion airport when the couple was walking the tarmac with several reporters noting their every move. In the moment when the President tried to reach out for his wife’s hand, she evidently swatted it away. The moment was blown out of proportion to the point where Melania herself had to clear the air.
“The red carpet simply could not accommodate four of us abreast,” she wrote in her memoir. She went on to add how swatting her husband’s hand away was a “minor innocent gesture” and “nothing more.”
A third very similar moment came during Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican. The First Lady and the POTUS, who were in attendance, made the headlines once again. The couple was scrutinized for actually holding hands this time around.
“President Trump and First Lady Melania holding hands at the Pope‘s funeral,” a netizen wrote on X, along with a video of the couple holding hands. The caption appearing on the video also noted how “tightly” the President held onto his wife’s hand.
President Trump and First Lady Melania holding hands at the Pope‘s funeral pic.twitter.com/5ZKOwMU5Vw
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) April 26, 2025
“Why is he practically breaking her arm for attention?” one user inquired. “Boy, you can tell she hates that. Just hates it with every inch of her being,” another claimed. A third speculated while writing, “Kinda looks like she’s trying to pull her hand away.”
Many others leaned into the conspiracy theory of Melania getting “paid” to make public appearances with the President. “All for show. And she gets paid for it. But live apart the rest of the time,” one claimed. “Betcha that cost extra $$$ in this month’s allowance check,” another quipped.
Scroll below to catch more glimpses of the couple together.
