Melania Trump 'protects' Donald with 'chess move' in awkward public appearance

First Lady appeared to be 'protecting' with a calculated gesture during a recent public appearance. The couple took to the stage to watch a rare military parade in Washington DC on Saturday (June 14), which coincided with the president's 79th birthday celebrations.

were front and centre as a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' was played in honour of the US Army's 250th anniversary. Some onlookers have noticed the president appeared to be keeping eerily still, while others have spotted what they claim is a clever move by the First Lady to guard her spouse.

Footage of the event was posted to the social media platform X, showing the First Lady positioning herself in front of her husband onstage.

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The user who uploaded the footage asked: "Why did he let Melania stand in front of him? They sang happy birthday, he didn't move. He didn't move until they brought out the Flag."

While some found this behaviour odd, there were those who saw it as Melania exerting her influence as First Lady. A commenter suggested: "It's a chess move – The Queen protects her King."

Another X user wrote: "I just realised that he said the Army Knights. Knights like in chess?" A third added: "Queen protects the King."

Another agreed: "It's a chess move... when the queen is in front of the king in chess it means game over."

It comes following a wave of so-called 'No Kings' protests against Trump, with the movement gaining momentum nationwide in recent weeks.

Tensions have been escalating across the States since riots broke out on the streets of Los Angeles, with Trump deploying the National Guard to quash demonstrations protesting his immigration policies.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris both decried the use of about 4,000 troops to quell violence in the California city.

However, Trump has stood firm in his decision to send Guardsmen onto the streets. Posting to Truth Social, he said: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" Shortly after, he doubled down on his comment, adding: "ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!"

Key figures among the Democrats and political pundits have voiced their concern over Trump's remarks.

Trump's former election rival Harris released a statement labelling the move a "dangerous escalation".

Governor Newsom agreed, calling the president a "stone cold liar" and accusing him of exacerbating the unrest.

He said at the time: "Donald Trump is inflaming these conditions. This is Donald. Trump's problem right now. And if he can't solve it, we will."