Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump have been in each other’s lives for decades.
The former first lady met Donald Trump in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party.
When they started dating, she was 28 and he was 52.
Donald was married twice before he connected with Melania, and he had four children from his previous relationships.
Donald and his first wife,Ivana Trump, shared Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump.
WhileMelania herself has undergone a notable transformation, so has her relationship with Ivanka.
Throughout, Melania has dropped telling signs through her body language about her feelings towards Ivanka.
The List reached out to body language experts to get their exclusive takes.
In late 1999, the trio attended a New York fashion show together.
At the event, Melania looked serious, while Donald and Ivanka were all smiles.
At that point, Melania and her soon-to-be husband had been going out for less than two years.
“Melania does appear tense and somewhat distant from Donald in this picture,” Moore explained.
“Melania’s body language here is communicating mixed feelings,” Moore asserted.
Ivanka Trump was at the event too, and she posed with her father and his new fiancee.
Previously, the businesswoman had talked about Melania in an interview withNew York Magazineand said overwhelmingly positive things.
Body language expert and celebrity love advisor Nicole Moore detailed Melania’s feelings to The List.
Fortunately, the future first lady didn’t seem bothered by it.
Either that, or she was too distracted by their engagement to give it too much thought.
Melania and Donald married in January 2005, so they were still in their honeymoon period at Fashion Week.
What’s more, Melania was officially one of the Trumps, cementing her place within the family.
Even in her posture, Melania exuded confidence and security.
But for Ivanka, the attitude is different.
AsMoore told us, Melania’s body language suggested total warmth and openness towards Ivanka.
They both express comfortable body language, and are very warm with each other.
In fact, they’re behaving like friends.
Moore noted that it’s almost as if Melania didn’t want to acknowledge Ivanka.
Melania did smile occasionally, Moore observed, but said that the smiles did not seem genuine.
Moore also noted that Ivanka’s body language could not be more different from her stepmother’s.
Moore noted that Melania, on the other hand, was still very much processing this development.
The two women carried a nearly equal presence that day.
In avideoclip of the day, the two women appear to be smiling and excited.
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump took on a position as senior advisor to her father.
This led to whispers thatIvanka secretly wanted to take over Melania’s first lady duties.
The List spoke withGreg Hartley, Body Language and Behavior Expert, about Melania’s interaction with Ivanka here.
“When Melania enters, Ivanka does a slight downright head nod,” he explained.
There was no evidence of tension in Melania towards Ivanka.
They spoke on the South Lawn of the White House in front of a huge audience.
While Melania Trump was present, she was not as involved in the event.
In aclipfrom the event, Melania’s facial expression read as uncomfortable, while Ivanka’s was elated.
While the interaction looks awkward, Hartley observed warmth between Melania and Ivanka.
According to Hartley, Melania’s nervous energy wasn’t brought on by Ivanka’s presence.
Rather, Ivanka might’ve been a comforting, familiar presence at the event.
Based on Melania’s shallow respiration, Hartley did notice some stress in her body language.
