Home Donald Trump Trump’s Bizarre Clap During Melania’s Freeze Draws Health Questions: β€œCan a Neurologist...

Trump’s Bizarre Clap During Melania’s Freeze Draws Health Questions: β€œCan a Neurologist Explain This?”

By
Justen Blake
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On Thursday, a very odd moment unfolded inside the East Room of the White House. First Lady Melania Trump was speaking about her new β€œFostering the Future” initiative when she suddenly stopped talking for several seconds. She stood still, almost frozen in place, while the room stayed silent.

Right next to her, President Donald Trump began clapping in a strange, one handed rhythm. He kept going long enough for cameras to zoom in and for the moment to spread across social media within minutes.

The clip was shared widely with captions like β€œWhat is happening” and β€œThis feels unreal.” Many viewers said they replayed the video because they could not believe how awkward the scene looked.


But before the moment went viral, the event had started like any other White House ceremony. Melania stepped up to the podium to introduce the new program, which aims to help young people who are leaving the foster care system.

β€œThis executive order gives me tremendous pride. It is both empathetic and strategic,” she said. She then added, β€œI predict this small spark today will ignite a profound and lasting nationwide movement.”

For a few minutes, the presentation went smoothly. Then came the pause. Melania stopped mid sentence. Her face stiffened. She did not blink. Trump looked toward her for a second, then started the slow, off beat clapping that social media users quickly labeled β€œthe strangest clap of the year.”

As Melania regained her place and finished her remarks, Trump stepped to the microphone.

β€œI am delighted to sign a historic executive order to make America’s foster care system better, fairer, and more effective than ever before,” he said. He then praised his wife, saying, β€œAll of this has been made possible by the First Lady’s incredible devotion to America’s youth.”

The executive order focuses on helping young people who are aging out of foster care. It includes support for education, job training, housing, and other life needs. The White House said the order will create new partnerships between federal agencies, nonprofits, schools, and businesses.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, said the order β€œis part of the First Lady’s Fostering the Future efforts” and is connected to her earlier Be Best campaign.

β€œPresident Trump will be joined by the First Lady in the East Room for an Executive Order signing aimed at expanding opportunities for education, career development, housing and other resources for young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood,” Leavitt said during a Wednesday briefing.

National Foster Youth Institute data shows the size of that struggle. Only half of foster children finish high school. Only 3% get a college degree. One out of five becomes homeless after leaving the system. Half do not have steady work by age twenty four. These are the numbers the First Lady said she hopes to change.

Featured image via Youtube screengrab

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