Trump inaugural- Of hugs and kisses and awkward familiarity
Trump gave Michelle a peck on the cheek , while Melania gifted a wrapped box to Michelle. Obama and Donald exchanged pleasantries as awkward friends.
In Short
- Obama and Trump exchanged handshakes and hugs that looked rigid.
- Melania Trump, the new First Lady, spotted a nervous smile on her face
- Michelle listened to Trump's speech with furrowed eyebrows
As the world streamed in to watch Donald Trump take oath as the 45th President of the United States, the cameras told fascinating stories.
At the traditional morning tea in White House ahead of the inaugural, the incoming and the outgoing incumbents exchanged handshakes and hugs that looked rigid and did not betray their discomfitures.
OBAMA AND TRUMP LOOKED AWKWARD FRIENDS
Trump gave Michelle a peck on the cheek , while Melania gifted a wrapped box to Michelle. Obama and Donald exchanged pleasantries as awkward friends.
As the action then shifted to the oath taking ceremony , first came Hillary Clinton, Trumps fiery opponent, braving a smile to the cameras.
Michelle with former first Lady Laura Bush, and Obama with his Vice President and friend Joe Biden, stepped out to the western porch front of Capitol, with grace, ready to wave final goodbyes.
MELANIA WILL ALSO BE AT SPOTLIGHT
Melania Trump, the new First Lady, who will be scrutinised every moment and compared to her immediate predecessor Michelle Obama, walked in delicately for the inaugural. Dressed in a blue double faced cashmere mock-turtleneck Ralph Lauren dress and high heels , Melania evoked images of Jackie Jennedy. She walked cautiously with a nervous smile on her face.
Her daughter Ivanka ,who is likely to play the role of a de facto White house hostess was calm and grace earlier, sailing in with her husband Jared Bushner, appointed senior adviser to her father in White House. The duo looked in charge walking in with the rest of the first family.
As the cameras zoomed in, Donald Trump walked out at some distance behind other top party colleagues with his quintessential expression bordering on a smirk. With his unbuttoned long jacket and a red long tie with small knot ,Trump looked the lone tough guy.
But as the Supreme Court Chief Justice administered the oath of office to President Trump and he took the mike, there seemed a last minute nervous flutter. Trump exchanged a quick kiss with Melania standing close by. Some camera angles though suggested air kiss , perhaps to seek some assurance .
"Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs," announced the new President.
Also read | 7 Modisms in US President Donald Trump's inaugural speech
As Trump rejected any accomplishment of past governments, the body language of the outgoing First Lady changed. Unlike her husband who looked on with a composed expression, Michelle made it clear. With furrowed eyebrows an unimpressed Michelle watched him with her mouth set tight. Hillary Clinton too looked sombre as her expression slowly turned into a scowl when Trump echoed notes of patriotism.
Later perhaps to make up, President Trump reportedly said hello to both Bill and Hillary Clinton on the way into the post-inaugural luncheon at the Capitol. Trump reached across the table and thanked Hillary for attending the inaugural, claimed reporters.
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