Melania and equality

She is fluent in five languages.

Trisher, it's like Chinese whispers, isn't it, the message gets twisted in the repeating of it.
Nothing against the Chinese, by the way. Why is it called Chinese whispers?

According to "The Week" which does not appear to be a Trump supporting site she speaks Slovene, English, French, Serbian and German. Just because someone has a strong accent doesn't make them stupid.

Mair just seen you comment re MO - I think it's absolutely disgusting

Does she really speak several languages? I don't think her English sounds particularly fluent or articulate. Her web page used to say she had a degree and that wasn't true and it was eventually taken down. In the video I posted I honestly think she sounds quite stupid - especially with those vile birther comments

I think the fact that Melania is said to speak several languages says much for her intelligence - as for her compassion, can we please give her a chance to get settled before we judge.

Jalima if you can only criticise and not contribute to the discussion why bother? I have fully explained my post but you continue to pick on one aspect of it. It's a bit like saying I prefer this natural grey to that manufactured grey and you telling me I am saying it is blue. I am not really interested in either woman's looks and wait patiently for a comment about Melania's intelligence/compassion, but you are obviously not interested in character or any other aspect of the woman apart from two words you regard as criticism and I consider description. Try reading through the posts much worse things were said about Michelle Obama and you didn't make any comment. If you regard 'plastic' as being criticism it's in your head.

Jalima
Your DH is not subject to the scrutiny of several million people who already think he's an a***hole.

MaizieD

I am wondering if DH is uncaring because he is quite likely to do this - perhaps I should write to an agony aunt and get some advice.
However, he is quite likely to stop halfway up the steps and shout - 'are you coming or not?'

EEK! The thing...

I don't give a stuff that Trump didn't help Melania out of the car, or introduce her to Obama before he shook hands with him. Neither of these actions are rude or unusual.

Thing thing that jars is that he couldn't wait a few seconds for her to come round the car and join him so they could walk up the steps together. It looks uncaring.

Of course, it's entirely possible that before the car stopped she'd said to him "Don't wait for me, dear, I'll be right behind you.."

Nice to see the usual prejudices and outdated standards for assessing women are still alive and kicking on GN. Intelligence and compassion count for nothing, plastic manufactured beauty is what matters.
Sorry trisher, but if you can't see that your posts are judgemental and, quite frankly, exactly what you are accusing other posters of (bitchiness) then I am astonished at the lack of self-awareness portrayed in your posts.

Maybe she was making sure there were no snipers on the rooftops before going up the steps.

After you, dear!

Going back to the OP!

I like to try and rationalise how a scenario has played out and my thought regarding Donald Trump on this occassion is this.

The Trumps limmo turned up and stops directly in front of the Obama's who are at standing on top of some steps.. Trump is seated on that side , obviously, his wife is sat the other. Like the rest of us they do not sit on each others lap to get out of the car on the same side! Trump will be focused on the scale of the event, the paparazzi and even he may have been overawed by the significance of what was happening to him.

Malania Trump was 'escorted' out of the car on the far side, not shoved out of the door by Trump and told not to get in the bloody way, although those of a certain ilk will think that is exactly what he might have done because it suits their remit of hatred towards him and his family as we can clearly see and read in the media and even on GN.

Malania probably did exactly what I think I would have done given the circumstances and probably didn't think twice about her husband shaking Obamas hand before being introduced to me nor would I have given one moments attention to the fact my husband walked up the steps before me because I know my husband would have been giving his attention to the job in hand knowing I would be supportive of his every move and certainly not expecting him to put me before greeting the President of the USA which Obama still was at the time.

The meeting on the North Portico of the White House was perfectly acceptable and the Obamas and the Trumps behaved impeccably. Trump puts a hand on Malanias back and ensures the 'ladies' enter the White House before himself and Obama which shows the correct etiquette.

Is there any evidence to show that past incoming Presidents behaved any differently to Donald Trump and introduced their wife first and kept the President waiting while their wife walked up the steps to the North Portico ? Interesting to see if this is a first or as I would suspect reasonable behaviour.

My opinion is had Trump kept Obama waiting and put his wife before Trump in the pecking order some would say he was a big head who thought he could keep Obama waiting. Can't win syndrome!

Isn't it wierd how posters pick on a single aspect of a post, twist it, criticise it and then blame the original poster for some idea they never really intended and which they have reinterpreted through their own tinted and biased lenses. My original post in response to the condemnation of Michelle Obama by handmadedogsweaters was Nice to see the usual prejudices and outdated standards for assessing women are still alive and kicking on GN. Intelligence and compassion count for nothing, plastic manufactured beauty is what matters.
Sadly the 'plastic' comment was the only one picked up, which indicates to me that no-one has any evidence of Melania's intelligence and compassion. But if there is anyone on GN who actually cares about these things perhaps they can comment.
As for the 'plastic' I think most of today's young women are sadly affected by the airbrushed images they are presented with in the media and try to recreate this using dense make-up and other things and the only term I can think of to describe the results is 'plastic'. If this is regarded as a criticism, sorry but it's just how it looks.

Must go and put some slap on before I put the cat out

I think if any First Lady went around looking like a bag lady she would come in for far more criticism

Look how people criticised Cherie Blair when she was so-called 'First Lady'

I would do it too if I had the money Jalima

Nothing wrong with it in my opinion. Some of us wear makeup in a bid to improve our appearance so why not have a bit of help? Sadly we do live in a world where women (and it's mainly women) are judged by how they look.

Harriet Harman too has clearly had a bit of work done. But wouldnt we all if we had to face photographers every day?

All politicians wives, once they are in the limelight spend a lot on couture, hairdressing, and make up, and probably Botox ( even in the UK)and politicians themselves too, there are one or two like Caroline Lucas and Yvette Cooper who are managing to look younger and smoother every year!

And the Blairs. A few years back they were both looking ragged and have improved their appearance since. Cherie certainly seems to have tightened up the double chin.

But then, of course, all my acquaintances and the media would come out of the woodwork and say I looked 'plastic'.

Then accuse others of being bitchy rofl

I wouldn't mind the odd nip and tuck and veneers

She kept smiling though, that's the main thing, and looked great in her red suit( while we are still on fashion/looks etc.)
All politicians wives, once they are in the limelight spend a lot on couture, hairdressing, and make up, and probably Botox ( even in the UK)and politicians themselves too, there are one or two like Caroline Lucas and Yvette Cooper who are managing to look younger and smoother every year!
Michelle Obama has changed hugely in her years in the White House, and so did Hilary Clinton in her time there.So what, it is what you would expect when you know that you will be scrutinised relentlessly for years.

Bluebelle I wasn't directing my post at you.

And yes, it wasn't photoshopped, it was actual footage and shown on the BBC news. I expect he was trying to be gentlemanly as they walked down the steps. Perhaps he took on board the criticism of leaving Melania behind as he bounded up the steps of the White House!
It is only her hand he grabbed.

Wonder if this happened or is photoshopped ? Funny though

Jalima my point was to the posts that were supporting Trump I ve got no feelings one way or another about his wife