Melania Trump's Enigmatic Smile: A Sphynx at the UN Stage

UNASSEMBLY EXTRAVAGANZA: TRUMP'S FIERY SPEECH LEAVES WORLD LEADERS SCRAMBLING

It was a day of drama, intrigue, and subtle (and not-so-subtle) nods at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, where President Donald Trump delivered a scathing speech that left world leaders squirming in their seats. But while Trump's bombastic rhetoric stole the headlines, it was his wife Melania's enigmatic smile that truly caught the eye of body language expert Judi James.

According to James, who penned an exclusive piece for The Scholarly Note, Melania's "Sphynx-like" expression was not a sign of disdain, as some had speculated. Rather, it was a masterclass in subtle diplomacy – a testament to her skill at navigating the treacherous waters of high-stakes politics.

As Trump ripped into the UN on everything from broken escalators (yes, you read that right) to immigration policies, Melania sat serenely in her seat, her eyes darting occasionally towards her husband with a hint of amusement. It was as if she was saying, "I'm here for this ride, but I'm not getting on the train."

Meanwhile, Trump himself seemed to be operating on a different level of reality altogether. He boasted about his own physical fitness – 79 years young and still rocking it like a boss – before using a broken escalator as Exhibit A in his indictment of the UN's ineptitude.

But the real question on everyone's mind was: what did Melania think? Was she silently seething at her husband's antics, or was she just playing it cool? James observed that she "produced a subtle wry smile of agreement" when Trump raged against the broken escalator, but it was clear that she was not about to let him off the hook.

And then there were the other world leaders who attended the assembly. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's expression, according to James, could have been "plastered on a tombstone in a funeral procession." But Pompeo himself seemed entirely at ease, chatting up his colleagues and smiling warmly as he went about his business.

Not so, however, for U.N. Amb. Michael Waltz, who was spotted sporting a "wild rictus smile of knowing and rather arch-looking approval" – a facial expression that James likened to "a man whose static, sober facial expression would have seen him working as an official mourner at funerals in another life."

But perhaps the most telling moment came when Trump began to berate world leaders for their immigration policies. As he launched into a series of pointed criticisms, several audience members were spotted with their fingers over their lips – a clear sign that they were trying to stifle their giggles.

James observed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's frown suggested "intense, concerned listening" – and judging by the body language on display, it was clear that he had plenty of concerns. Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen seemed to be trying her best to look interested, but James noted that her eyelashes were batting so fast they could have caused a "down-draught."

And then there were the Chinese delegation – who opted for superior, studious-looking frowns and clenched fists – as well as the Russians, who seemed to be filming Trump on their phones with an air of almost sinister-looking concentration. The UK delegates, meanwhile, appeared to be clutching their hands together in white-knuckle terror, while the German delegate's face was creased into a series of intense, dour-looking frowns.

It was a day that will go down in history as one of the most dramatic UN General Assembly meetings ever – and one that left even the most seasoned diplomats scrambling to keep up. As James so aptly put it: "This was an assembly like no other – a gathering of world leaders who seemed more interested in dodging Trump's verbal missiles than in engaging with his message."

POST-SCRIPT:

In a bizarre twist, Trump would later hold a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that was much friendlier than their Oval Office showdown just a few months prior. The two leaders even seemed to be in agreement on several key issues – including the need for Ukraine to regain all of its territory taken by Russia with backing from NATO and the European Union.

But as James noted, it's clear that this newfound friendship will not go down without a fight. "The world is still waiting to see if Trump's UN-bashing will have any long-term consequences," she wrote. "One thing is certain, however: Melania Trump's 'Sphynx-like' smile has become an iconic symbol of diplomacy in the age of Trump."