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First Lady Melania Trump was spotted smiling and laughing with former president Barack Obama before Barbara Bush’s funeral service Saturday afternoon, causing social media users to flood Twitter with jokes about her marriage to President Trump and questions of what former president Obama had said to her.
“Melania looks happier at a funeral than she has in ages. Wouldn’t you too if you went from being with Donald every day to sitting next to Barack?” wrote one social media user.
The wife of former President George H.W. Bush died on Tuesday at age 92. She was honored at a funeral service at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston.
It was recently announced that the President Trump would not be attending Mrs. Bush’s funeral in order “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush family and friends attending the service,” according to a statement released by the White House and obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday.
However, that didn’t stop the FLOTUS from attending, flanked by two private resident staffers who had worked under Mrs. Bush during the former first lady’s eight years in the White House, according to a White House aid.
The Twitter-sphere was buzzing with talk of the friendly exchange, with users mentioning how happy the FLOTUS looked and some wondering what Mr. Obama said to her to make her smile.
Mr. Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were seated in the front row at the service, as was current First Lady Mrs. Trump, who was there representing the Trump family. On the other end of the row were Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as their daughter Chelsea.
One of Hillary Clinton’s aides Philippe Reines added, “Obama is a funny guy, but that’s a woman craving distance from a monster being reminded what dignity looks like.”
Although the official White House statement claimed that President Trump would be skipping the funeral because he didn’t want to disrupt the events, it was reported by the Associated Press that he would be residing at his Florida estate over the weekend, causing some social media users to joke that the First Lady and former POTUS were sharing a laugh at President Trump’s expense.
“Hey POTUS,” said Twitter user Andy Lassner. “How’s golf?”
Others mentioned that the picture of the two smiling and laughing together spoke volumes to the type of man that Mr. Obama is, despite the tense relationship that President Trump and Mr. Obama shared throughout the years.
Others were just curious as to what Mr. Obama said to the FLOTUS that made her smile so much.
And yet others noted of how happy and relaxed the FLOTUS looked.
Many users mentioned how strong and gracious it was for the FLOTUS to sit with the Obama’s, and gave her kudos for “putting aside [her] feelings” and politics to attend Mrs. Bush’s funeral.
Following the funeral, Mrs. Trump released a statement, expressing her condolences to the Bush family.
“Today the world paid tribute to a woman of indisputable character and grace. It was my honor to travel to Houston to give my respects to Barbara Bush and the remarkable life she led as a mother, wife, and fearless First Lady. My sincerest thoughts and prayers continue to be with George H.W., and the entire Bush family,” she said.
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GettyHOUSTON, TX – APRIL 21: Former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush arrive as they pass by former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama and first lady Melania Trump at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for a funeral service for former first lady Barbara Bush, April 21, 2018 in Houston, Texas. Bush, wife of former president George H. W. Bush and mother of former president George W. Bush, died at her home in Houston on April 17 at the age of 92. (Photo by David J. Phillip-Pool/Getty Images)
Former President George W. Bush was photographed pushing his 93-year-old dad in a wheelchair past Mrs. Trump, the Obamas and the Clintons. The elder Bush wore a pair of socks decorated with a book pattern to honor his wife of 73 years and her commitment to family literacy. Many of the female attendees wore strands of pearls, Barbara Bush’s signature accessory.