First lady Melania Trump was caught in a rather scripted moment that was intended to show love. While her husband has been using fake love emails to poach money from supporters ahead of Valentine’s Day, Melania decided to show up in a much different way, and the reception was equally cold. Melania Trump’s visit to the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health didn’t quite go according to script. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) ‘She’s Just as Bald as He Is’: Melania Trump’s Poised Appearance Falls Apart When the Wind Exposes Her Secret Cameras heavily documented Trump’s wife’s visit to The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday. Her visit to the Bethesda, Maryland, facility was “awkward” at least for viewers watching as Melania joined a group of kids creating arts and crafts while seated at a table. Before she sat down, the 55-year-old, wearing a tan button-down dress and a red belt, asked, “Why is it so quiet?” The room chuckled as she took a seat and continued, “It’s a celebration day, right?” “A little early… So what are you doing?” she added trying to make light conversation with the kids. During the event, Trump also spoke with them about their interests, their favorite music and school. However, the kids’ facial expressions in the footage stole the show, and one is sure to become a new meme soon. Video footage of the event draws viewers’ attention to the kids’ facial expressions when sitting beside the first lady. One child, wearing a pink glitter dress with a tutu, smiled as she showed Trump her seat. But it quickly faded after Melania said something inaudible, which seemed to turn the girl’s smile into an immediate frown. Several users remarked on the kids’ bored-looking faces, including one who zoomed in and noted, “Look at this poor girl’s face.” Observing the young girl’s face, another said, “She said… how long do we have to pretend for ?” Another clip shows the same young girl offering Melania a bouquet of flowers and then a tour of the facility, still with not a smile or smirk on her face as she was ready for the moment to be over. Aww — dubxaffinity (@dubxaffinity) February 12, 2026 “Yep. We all have that look on our faces,” one user joked, zooming in on other children’s faces in the video circulating online. A black boy wearing glasses and a black hoodie, who was seated behind Trump, was also caught on camera at the exact moment his smile turned to a look of gloom as Melania took her seat. “The look on the face of the boy sitting behind her says it all,” most agreed, piling on with “Nobody looks happy to see her.” “I love that the guy being her did the smile that she does to Donny that quickly fades when he looks away,” noted one final social media user. View on Threads Trump tried to boast about Melania charming young patients with a sweet post captioned, “First Lady Melania Trump charms young patients during NIH visit to mark Valentine’s Day,” but the reaction online quickly shifted. Instead of praise, commenters brought up the Epstein accusations and questioned the wording. One wrote, “I don’t know if this is the best time for him to be boasting about how great Melania is at ‘charming’ children.” Others piled on with remarks like, “Can’t speak a word of English. She’s not the one to visit anybody’s kids.” Melania’s “awkward” exchange with the young child seems to mirror the reaction of another young person in another viral clip. During the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in West Palm Beach, Trump invited North Carolina State University student Laura Schoeck onstage, praising her as someone who had been “attacked by thugs.” After she finished speaking, he shook her hand and patted her arm as she turned to leave. The footage shows Trump continuing to grab her hand and pull her slightly back as he turned his cheek, seemingly expecting a kiss. Schoeck leaned in briefly, then quickly disengaged and exited the stage, while Trump returned to the podium smiling and flashing thumbs-up gestures as the crowd looked on. Years later, the clip still circulates online, resurfacing whenever similar moments spark debate — a reminder of how quickly a staged show of support can turn into a lingering question about boundaries. ‘Look at the Poor Girl’s Face’: Trump Praises Melania’s Carefully Staged Hospital Visit — Then the Kids’ Brutal Reactions Blow Up the Whole Photo-Op ...read more read less