US election results: ‘Grim’ Melania makes a guest appearance

Melania Trump made a guest appearance alongside her husband Donald Trump during a late-night speech, where one expert described her appearance as “grim-faced.”

The First Lady has kept her distance throughout the US presidential election campaign, even more so since her Covid diagnosis, but the former Slovenian model has appeared publicly in recent days to support the Republican cause.

Melania was seen accompanying Trump to the podium in the East Room of the White House in a sleek black pantsuit and stood next to him before the president falsely claimed that he had already won the election.

The pair showed no signs of body contact, with Melania walking alone on stage and, despite flashing a smile for the cameras, a “body language expert” told Britain’s The Mirror that Melania looked “grim” and described his outfit as “funeral black”. .

Following Trump’s speech, Melania was seen leaving the stage in front of her husband as vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence and his wife held hands behind them.

“Melania’s facial expression may be beautifully impassive and Sphinx-like, but today’s change in mood was dramatic, although the actual expression changes were subtle,” said body language expert Judi James.

“Gone was the wide smile she had used during the election campaign, which had been so strong that people had even started asking her if she was a body double.

In its place was a somber brace as she gazed at her husband in his funereal black pantsuit and as Trump’s sons buzzed with glee as if celebrating a major victory, it was Melania’s appearance that told a very different story.

She applauded her husband to show her support, but it was the lift of her chin that had the biggest impact.

“It seemed like a gesture of defiance that matched Trump’s narrative.”

The outfit was in stark contrast to the designer threads she wore that day to vote; a sleeveless dress with chain and horse print from designer Gucci that is estimated at about $ 6,730. The dress was paired with Christian Louboutin heels and a Kelly bag from Hermes at a total cost of $ 32,000.

While printing is an iconic style long associated with the Italian fashion house, several people claimed that the chain’s design looked like “handcuffs” and accused Melania of sending a “message” with her outfit.

It comes as the prime minister of Melania’s homeland, Slovenia, tweeted in support of Trump and a “final triumph” for the president of the United States. Slovenia is part of the European Union and Janez Jansa, a far-right prime minister, is the first European leader to proclaim a victory.

President Trump has racked up dozens of criticism overnight after claiming that he had already won the US election during his speech.

“Frankly, we won this election,” Trump said from the East Room of the White House, adding that he would take the election to the Supreme Court if mail-in votes, legitimately cast prior to the election, are allowed to be counted in the next few days.

“We won this election … this is a huge fraud in our nation, so we will go to the Supreme Court of the United States. For me, this is a very sad moment. As far as I am concerned, we won.”

Despite Trump’s claims, neither candidate has reached the 270 electoral vote threshold and millions of votes have yet to be counted.

Both sides of the political spectrum around the world have held Trump accountable for the claims, described as “one of the most extraordinary speeches on election night.”