04 April 2023 , 16:33
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Donald Trump cut a very lonely figure during his historic arrest - and there was no Melania by his side.
The former US President is facing the first criminal charges ever to be thrown onto a former or current President of the United States relating to 'hush money' payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
While the payments themselves were not illegal, the issue is the way the reimbursement from his lawyer, Michael Cohen, was recorded in the accounts.
Trump, 76, is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the payment was for legal fees, and it may also violate laws about payments that help an election campaign because it happened just before Americans were due to vote.
When Trump flew from his Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida to hand himself in at the lower Manhattan courthouse today - but he was not joined by his wife.
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It's been reported that Melania is still "angry" at her husband, whose alleged extramarital affair happened just four months after she gave birth to their son, Barron, in 2006.
Donald Trump's wife Melania is said to be 'angry' (Getty Images)
Melania has stayed well away (Getty Images)Insiders claim the couple although living together at Mar-A-Lago conduct separate lives only coming together for the occasional dinner at his Palm Beach mansion.
"Their paths barely cross," a source told The Mirror. "Melania is no different to any woman. Having her husband accused of cheating on her not just once but twice is extremely disturbing.
"There is little wonder people believe it's not just the criminal court Trump is heading to but possibly a divorce one too."
It's been claimed that Melania continues to stay busy with her family, with her parents and 17-yeard-old son also living at Mar-A-Lago.
"She remains angry and doesn't want to hear [the alleged hush money payment] mentioned," a source told PEOPLE last month. "She is aware of who her husband is and keeps her life upbeat with her own family and a few close friends."
And she reportedly doesn't have much sympathy for Trump, with the source adding she "wants to ignore it and hopes it will pass, but she doesn't sympathize with Donald's plight."
While she may not be too pleased, it's been reported that Melania will continue to support her husband through these tough times.
"Melania and Donald were both shocked when they were told," a political source added. "They weren't expecting it, but Melania will support him. That's what she does. They are a family."
Donald Trump is seen with wife Melania at Mar-a-Lago last week (@DrGina/Twitter)Trump was last seen with his wife last Thursday night as they partied at his Florida residence, just hours after learning he was to be criminally charged.
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Melania wore a red dress as she stood beside her husband, who was beaming in his suit, at his Mar-a-Lago mansion.
Trump and his wife were captured in a photo posted to Twitter by Gina Loudon, a conservative media commentator.
She tweeted: "Beautiful evening here at the gorgeous Mar a Lago! Our REAL First Couple enveloped in the love of their friends and most loyal!"
Loudon then added: "(Sorry to disappoint, corporate media. Actually not. Screw you! This is a happiness you will never know, sadly)."
Melania's use of social media has also become a lot less, primarily using her Twitter account to post updates and messages.
However, her tweets have been sporadic, and she has not commented on political issues or current events since her departure from the White House.
While their relationship has always seemed strong, Trump did seem to turn on his wife during his US Midterms meltdown in November last year.
The Trumps have put on a show of strength before (Getty Images)The former President, who still refuses to admit he lost out to Joe Biden back in 2020, tried to claim that it has been a "very big victory" from his personal standpoint.
Trump himself was not on the ballot for the Midterms, but he has been heavily involved in campaigning for the Republican party and has backed a number of candidates.
On his Truth Social platform, boastful Trump tried to claim credit for "219 wins and 16 losses" for the candidates he backed in the elections.
While it's true that many were successful, what Trump has failed to acknowledge is that he's had some unexpected and very high-profile losses, which put a massive dent in his hopes to run for President in 2024.
In the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, Trump-backed candidate Dr Mehmet Oz lost his Senate race to Democrat John Fetterman.
Rather than accept he backed the wrong horse, or possibly hindered him, Trump reportedly blamed blaming his close circle and wife Melania for pushing him to support the failed candidate.
New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman tweeted: "Trump is indeed furious this morning, particularly about Mehmet Oz, and is blaming everyone who advised him to back Oz -- including his wife, describing it as not her best decision, according to people close to him."
When Trump launched another bid to become US president later that month - it looked like the power dynamic with Melania had drastically shifted.
The couple walked in holding hands (Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Trump walked in holding Melania's hand, which hasn't always been the case over the years, and it was suggested that she now has far more control.
Body language expert Judi James believes this is "a very different woman" from the one that appeared with Trump on his first bid to be president.
"Melania appears here in First Lady mode: more confident, more sociable and seemingly fully aware that she is an important factor in her husband's popularity," Judi told The Mirror.
"The couple walk as a couple here, side by side and with the power signals more evenly balanced than before. Melania's facial muscles look more relaxed, making her smiles look warmer and less of a rictus.
"Her wave appears to be her own signal rather than mirroring her husband, and her hand is held high with the palm flat to front, suggesting she is greeting old friends."
As the pair walked up to the stage, Melania seemed to be instructing Trump on how to act.
Trump and former first lady Melania stand together during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home in November (Getty Images)Judi said: "Walking through the audience and posing off the stage there were glimpses of Melania seeming to be muttering to her husband suggesting she might be in charge of the choreography.
"The hand clasp they used looked firm and Melania's fingers were curled round his hand to suggest she was endorsing it."
While it has previously been suggested that Melania might not like being in the spotlight, Judi said she believed she is relishing it this time round.
"Melania looked to be as keen to regain her Flotus status as Trump does his role as Potus," explained Judi.
"Melania looked wary and ignored by her husband first time around but now she knows she is popular with the voters and an asset to a Trump she looks happy to be back in the spotlight."
The body language expert also thought that Melania's outfit choice was sending a message.
She added: "Even her outfit reflected that. Monochrome suggests decisiveness and firmness and while the white skirt continues the very trustworthy, pure look she promoted in office the polka dots suggest an extrovert, upbeat attention-seeking approach."