Icy Vibes Between the Trumps: What's the Deal With Presidents and Rocky Marriages?

Beth Greenfield, Senior Writer, Yahoo Style, January 25, 2017, https://ca.style.yahoo.com/icy...iages-195425480.html

The new first couple at the 58th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol Hill. (Photo: John Angelillo-Pool/Getty Images)

Less than a week in, and already Donald Trump’s marriage to First Lady Melania has been the topic of giddy stories and social media posts about the union’s possible implosion.

Two instances have gone viral: the inauguration video snippet that has FLOTUS swapping her fake grin for look of misery as soon as her husband turns away, and the images of Trump exiting his car at the White House, rudely leaving Melania in the dust before the Obamas politely step in to welcome her.

And while reactions have been divided — with some expressing sympathy for the First Lady and even likening her to a hostage (#FreeMelania was trending on Facebook on Wednesday), and others blaming her for being complicit — the rumors of marital friction began way before the inauguration.

They may come especially easily regarding Trump, as he is only the second divorced U.S. president ever, and the first to have had more than one failed marriage. (The first divorcée was Ronald Reagan, although his split from Jane Wyman came so long before his presidential campaign that no one seemed to mind.)

But rumors of marriages on the rocks, whether based on truth or fiction, have followed U.S. presidents and their wives throughout history.  “The most important distinction is, of course, marital differences that occurred between presidential couples in private and those that were suggested in public,” Carl Anthony, National First Ladies Library historian and biographer, tells Yahoo Style.

“The first time there was a public report of a marital dispute between a presidential couple took place in 1888,” he says, referring to a “baseless” charge of Grover Cleveland having physically abused his wife in public. The next instance, notes Anthony, came in 1927, when rumors swirled of possible divorce between Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace.

Subsequently arising would be chatter about tensions between Andrew Jackson and wife Rachel (who was, for a short time, a bigamist); FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt (as he had a supposedly lengthy affair with his secretary, and she was thought to have had two affairs, one with lady journalist Lorena Hickock); Richard Nixon and wife Pat (whose marriage was often viewed as loveless); JFK and Jackie, as the president’s many rumored affairs were known to cause friction; Jimmy Carter, whose famously TMI admission that he had “committed adultery in my heart many times” against wife Rosalind caused his approval ratings to drop; and, of course, the Clintons, with Bill’s alleged affairs causing constant upheaval.

Tabloids have even put the Obamas on the verge of splitting, over claims as basic as differing parenting styles to colorful ones about the president’s supposed affair with, um, Beyoncé.

But it’s within a president’s best interests to keep his marriage in tact while in office, according to Rhodes College political science professor Michael Nelson. A president, or even aspiring president, has every reason to do whatever it takes to keep his wife from divorcing him, Nelson told Science Daily several years ago, as the political price would be high.

Still, why is the marital misery of celebrities — particularly presidents and first ladies — such an endless source of craved public fodder?

According to Pamela Rutledge, a media psychologist and head of the Media Psychology Research Center, while we’re attracted to celebrities because we admire them and envy their success, “We like to seem them having problems, because it reminds us that they are human, too — that their lives are not perfect.”

It’s not surprising, Rutledge explains, because “from a biological perspective, we are hardwired to notice disasters — the equivalent of rubbernecking on the highway. It is how we determine whether there is danger for our own survival.” She adds, “While Brad Pitt or Donald Trump’s infidelities don’t directly impact us, internally our brains are structured for an environment that existed millions of years ago, and we are hardwired to determine if such a behavior matters or threatens us. Is this a behavior that is accepted in our tribe? Will there be retribution?”

At an inaugural ball (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Interesting observations and speculations.

Trump and Melania did not seem to be enjoying their dance. Even Pence and his wife seemed closer to each other.

Ow me lard. Is this what some respected GNI posters have reduced themselves to just because they dislike President Trump ?

Well there is something to be said for a man who has gone through so many relationships.  Plus the age difference between him and Melania would not help either.

Bibi

I do worry about the age gap. Can Melania be satisfied (wink, wink) by Trump ?

Bill was slipping in women in the WH. Looks like Hiulary was not capable of fulfilling Bill's dinner.

Will Melania slip in some side helpers in the WH ?

Lots of gossips might be flying on this one. I am staying clear of this one. Outta Here.

The Mahatma got Ivanka...no need for Melania

Now Now Riff, you are crossing the line here. 

yuji22 posted:

Now Now Riff, you are crossing the line here. 

Your Mahatma  was the one that said, that if Ivanka was not his daughter he would have dated her. Dirty Old Bastard, well as you know the only thing he can do down below with women is to grab and feel them. Should I say birds of a feather flock together.

Don't say that about Yuji.  He is much younger than Trump and can stay awake for longer than five minutes.

People have nothing better to do.  Over the years, I saw many unflattering snippets of moments when the Obamas looked stressed and strained.  Hey, and the fact that he is much older, well that has been mitigated by Viagra!  There were also moments with JFK and his wife and with the Clintons.

However, Trump seems a "transactional" guy, even in relations, but she knew and signed up for it!  As long as she "takes care" of him and he runs the country, who cares, that's a matter for them!

Furthermore, I am sure, regardless of all the pomp and circumstance and outward glamour, this entire process must have been stressful on them, and more so being non-politicians!

Trump is indeed a transactional guy. He got a trophy wife and she got a sugar daddy.

He also has such a hot daughter......................so he says.

cain posted:

He also has such a hot daughter......................so he says.

Well he did tried to grab her ass at the RNC convention. Which father allows his hands to go on that area of his daughter's lower waist. But then again, which father let his grown daughter sit that close to his crotch?

“There’s a picture of you — was it you staring at Hillary or you staring at Hillary?” DeGeneres said as Aguilera began to laugh.

“She was staring at my bosoms,” Aguilera replied.

The audience roared when they were shown the picture:

http://www.theamericanmirror.c...asts/comment-page-3/

That's Irie mon..Dem two not related.

cain posted:

That's Irie mon..Dem two not related.

It seems that Yuji does not have a problem with a man having his grown daughter sit on his lap close to his crotch. Yuji is painting a very disturbing picture of himself.

Its a stressful change in lifystyle for Melania. Give her some slack guys. She has the double pressure seeing her English language is not perfect

Amral posted:

Its a stressful change in lifystyle for Melania. Give her some slack guys. She has the double pressure seeing her English language is not perfect

She hasn't gotten over the stress from copying Michelle Obama's speech. Like Donald said "Michelle Obama gave a speech and everyone cheered, Melania gave the same speech and everyone booed". Give the lady a break, she is married to a sugar daddy who happens to be a big cry baby.

Amral posted:

Its a stressful change in lifystyle for Melania. Give her some slack guys. She has the double pressure seeing her English language is not perfect

From the recent news, it would seem that she is already slack.

ksazma posted:

Amral posted:

Its a stressful change in lifystyle for Melania. Give her some slack guys. She has the double pressure seeing her English language is not perfect

From the recent news, it would seem that she is already slack.

Wah you ah seh hey bai? Cyat want milk and ee ah look fuh milk?