Awkward moment as Donald Trump fails to kiss Melania moments before inauguration oath
Donald Trump awkwardly failed to kiss his wife Melania on the cheek moments before he was sworn in as president for the second time.
The incoming president, 78, fell inches short of his wife’s face – with the pair air kissing instead.
Mrs Trump, 54, wore a wide-brimmed hat for the inauguration ceremony in Washington DC on Monday – which prevented her husband from reaching her cheek – and blocked her face from view.
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The Bidens, and other former presidents and first ladies, joined celebrities for Mr Trump’s second inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol.
Pic: Reuters
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Mr and Mrs Trump, who married in 2005, suffered an equally awkward moment at his last inauguration in January 2017.
The then-president-elect appeared to forget about his spouse as he hurried up the White House steps to greet his predecessor President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, with Mrs Trump subsequently left to walk alone.
Later on that day, Mrs Trump was captured scowling at her husband – momentarily changing to a smile when he turned around – only to continue grimacing once his head was turned.
The couple’s relationship came under further scrutiny in May that year during a visit to Tel-Aviv, Israel, when Mrs Trump appeared to push the president’s hand away after he tried to hold it at a red carpet event.
Mrs Trump’s wide-brimmed hat blocked much of her face from view. Pic: Reuters
President Donald Trump is sworn in for a second time. Pic: Reuters
The returning first lady was notably absent from her husband’s second presidential campaign last year – save from its launch at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee – prompting further speculation about the state of her marriage.
She also made headlines in October with the release of her memoir, in which she declared her support for abortion rights – contradicting her husband’s view.
But after Mr Trump’s attempted assassination in Pennsylvania in July, his wife’s statement described his attacker as a “monster” and urged Americans to “ascend above the hate”.
The couple met in 1998 – when she was 28 and Mr Trump’s marriage to his second wife Maria Marples had not long broken down. A year after their wedding, Mrs Trump gave birth to their son Barron in 2006.
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Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he “will not back down” from Russia’s goals in Ukraine during a phone call today, the Kremlin has said.
The Russian president spoke to his US counterpart for almost an hour, and Mr Trump “again raised the issue of an early end to military action” in Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
In response, Mr Putin said “Russia will not back down” from its aims there, which include “the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs,” Mr Ushakov said.
The phrase “root causes” is shorthand for Moscow’s argument that it was compelled to invade Ukraine in order to prevent the country from joining NATO.
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Trump and Putin’s latest call on Ukraine
Ukraine and its European allies say this is a pretext to justify what they call an imperial-style war, but Mr Trump has previously shown sympathy with Russia.
At the same time, Mr Putin told the US president that Russia is ready to continue negotiating, the aide said.
The Russian president said any prospective peace deal must see Ukraine give up its NATO bid and recognise his country’s territorial gains.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seen with Mr Trump in June, is pushing for Ukraine to join NATO. Pic: Reuters
He also briefed Mr Trump on agreements made last month, which saw Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war and dead soldiers.
Specific dates for the third round of peace talks in Istanbul were not discussed – nor was the US decision to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine.
Mr Putin and Mr Trump’s call came after the Pentagon confirmed some weapons due to be sent to Ukraine have been held as it reviews military stockpiles.
The paused shipments include air defence missiles and precision-guided artillery, two people familiar with the situation have said.
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The decision led to Ukraine calling in the acting US envoy to Kyiv on Wednesday to underline the importance of military aid from Washington.
Kyiv also cautioned that the move would weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances.
Mr Putin and Mr Trump’s phone call was the sixth they have publicly disclosed since the US president returned to the White House in January.
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