Trump Accused of Being Too Handsy With Melania at Royal State Visit

President Donald Trump faced criticism after an Associated Press photograph showed him touching First Lady Melania Trump on the backside during the ceremonial welcome for King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House.

The image, captured by AP photographer Jacquelyn Martin, captured Trump placing his hand on Melania's lower back right after shaking the King's hand, then lowering it further for what some online noted as a "love tap."

CBS News correspondent Jennifer Jacobs shared the photo on social media shortly after it was taken, and it quickly spread online.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C. on April 27, for a State Visit hosted by the president and First Lady. The couples stood in front of the Washington Monument for the welcome ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute.

Online reactions were swift and divided, as many users on X criticized the gesture as inappropriate given the formal occasion.

"Actually disgusting and probably embarrassing to the First Lady," one user commented.

Another added, "Putting your hand on your wife's a** when you're walking with the king of England is not classy, it's embarrassing."

A third user highlighted a political angle: "Imagine if Biden or Obama were feeling on their wife's a** in public next to the Royal Family. But when it's Trump, it's a patriotic love tap."

Others defended the gesture as normal for a marriage.

"My wife and I frequently give each other little love taps like the one Trump gave Melania," one user stated. "It is a sign of genuine affection between husband and wife."

Another said, "I've done that to my girlfriend before, it's just a habit when you're comfortable with someone. Doesn't seem like a big deal to me."

The backside pat was not the only physical gesture that drew attention during the visit. Trump also placed a firm hand on Charles's arm after the monarch got out of his vehicle. Critics said this violated royal protocol against unsolicited physical contact with members of the Royal Family.

He also faced backlash for pulling the King into a well-known forceful handshake upon arrival.

Body language expert Judi James commented on the arm touch, telling the Mirror that the gesture represented friendship, despite breaching formal protocol. She noted that King Charles did not seem disturbed by it.

"Charles has always seemed more relaxed about that than his mother," James said. "Trump's gesture was extremely tempered for Trump."

After the ceremonial welcome, the two couples moved to the White House Green Room for an informal tea before Trump held a private bilateral meeting with Charles to discuss UK-US relations. Melania and Queen Camilla conducted a separate educational workshop for local students.

The State Visit wrapped up with a lavish state banquet, after which King Charles spoke to a joint session of Congress, his first address to the American legislature.

Trump’s relationship with the UK’s Keir Starmer deteriorated after the Iran war, but it appears that King Charles has mended the bridge of UK-US relations in the meantime.