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The Republican National Convention kicked off its second night on Tuesday, featuring President Donald Trump performing executive duties like presidential pardons and naturalization ceremonies, introducing a slew of ethical questions in the process.
The final speaker of the night was First Lady Melania Trump, who gave her address to a loosely distanced, mostly maskless crowd in the newly-renovated Rose Garden. The nearly 30 minute speech left some with the impression that it could've withstood a few cuts.
As the speech went on, conservative television network Fox News presented a split screen between the First Lady's speech and the President reacting to it.
The result was awkward to say the least.
Fox went with a split screen pic.twitter.com/LfrOKOH44L
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) August 26, 2020
As Mrs. Trump hailed Trump's educational policies, the President sat sternly with his arms crossed and a noticeable frown.
People began speculating on the meaning behind the President's body language.
@realDonaldTrump is upset she isn't lathering him with endless sycophantic praise. https://t.co/mZq4ng1Wuw
— Spiro Agnew's Ghost (@SpiroAgnewGhost) August 26, 2020
This is the one and only time I wish I had watched Fox News. Because I've got $50 that says neither of them showed any emotion during the entire thing. https://t.co/9hSmHoLfVD
— April (@ReignOfApril) August 26, 2020
*Trump thought bubble*
"She looks really familiar. I can't put my finger on it." https://t.co/RBde5z1c3K
— Miles Kahn (@mileskahn) August 26, 2020
Don't get yourself a partner who looks at Melania the way Donald does. https://t.co/g5pP4CLDIw
— Alexander Huls (@alxhuls) August 26, 2020
Looking at Trump's body language...I think he's afraid of what she might say... https://t.co/eAK1lKIwgY
— Sandra Landriault 🇨🇦 (@dontknockbarack) August 26, 2020
Not a good look from Trump. It tells a lot about that relationship https://t.co/RSZTwRoeBt
— Loordy (@LoordyMarie) August 26, 2020
Mrs. Trump, who endorsed her husband's racist birther conspiracy against former President Barack Obama in the past, was lauded by some of the press for a speech they claimed "restored a sense of normalcy."
While the speech may have been less erratic and foreboding than other speakers at the convention so far, people weren't happy with the pass she was given.
Commentators gushing over Melania stringing a few bland words together and saying she's sorry the people her husband killed are dead without acknowledging her complicity in a shocking breach of law and norms or her racist birtherism is the kind of normalization that got us here. https://t.co/XkXsPqySrT
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 26, 2020
Why normalize the woman who refused to become FLOTUS before renegotiating a more lucrative prenup, spouts birtherism, remains silent abt babies in cages, has a bad marriage... read more @ PressRun
The press has a Melania Trump problem by @EricBoehlert https://t.co/DIZIu2j9Zh
— Jamie Schler (@lifesafeast) August 26, 2020
Melania didn't push for unity. She worked to “soften" her husbands horrific attacks on people of color.
Maybe ask people of color who are under attack and not protected by privilege if they felt unity. https://t.co/n7GWxGW0LX
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 26, 2020
The third night of the Republican Convention begins on Wednesday, featuring speeches by Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence.