The presidential inauguration was always going to be the catalyst for any number of salacious stories.

With Donald Trump being sworn in ahead of his second term as POTUS, all eyes were on Capitol Hill yesterday, January 20, to see what controversy could be found as the hand holding the pen of US history begins to write a new chapter.

As predicted, there was much and more in the way of speculation and moments worthy of going viral online. One such moment involved Donald and Melania Trump, with the first lady appearing to ‘turn her face’ from her husband as he failed to kiss her during the inauguration.

Prior to his all-important speech, given immediately after he took his oath of office, Trump and Melania arrived for the traditional church service that marks the start of the inauguration and the official end of the outgoing administration.

In plain view of the cameras, Trump appeared to try and kiss his wife in what would have been a somewhat uncharacteristic moment of public affection. Melania, however, dressed in an eye-catching hat that hid most of her face, turned her head so that her husband’s attempt fell short.

Needless to say, the moment sparked all manner of theories and comments online, with people taking to the internet to discuss the legitimacy of Melania’s move. Was this the first lady intentionally turning her face to avoid being kissed by her husband? Or was it simply a coincidence that happened to play out before the eyes of the world?

Attempting to clear the matter up, body language expert Judi James shared her thoughts on what the ‘dodge’ might indicate, telling Paddy Power that Donald Trump entered the inauguration event “with a slow alpha presence” with a “mouth shrug smile to suggest a sombre, serious approach to the job.”

James added that when Donald reached Melania, he “tenderly” took her hand “in a romantic, hand-linking gesture that would normally be seen at a wedding ceremony.”

Melania dodges kiss

She went on: “He then leant in to plant a kiss on his wife and for a moment it looked as though he was going for a lip-to-lip kiss.

“Melania leant towards her husband to reciprocate but she also turned her face to instigate a cheek kiss rather than the mouth variety.”

James labeled it a ‘heart-stopping moment’ that can be interpreted ‘as though their synchronicity might be out of kilter’.

Melania’s outfit, meanwhile, was picked apart online for being what some deemed too sombre for the joyous occasion of her husband returning to the Oval Office. Donning a dark boater hat that wreathed her face in shadow, as well as a high-necked outfit, the first lady’s choice of attire was called into question by folk online, some of whom referred to her look as that of a “mob wife at a funeral” and “Dark Maga”.

Rumors have insisted that Melania will not make  the White House her full-time residence during her husband’s second administration, and will instead choose to split her time between Washington and New York, where she and Donald’s son, Barron, is now studying.