US election: Melania Trump makes joint appearance with Donald Trump

She’s been accused of being cold and even “repulsed” by Trump, but Melania’s behaviour at the rally was a contrast with previous appearances.

Melania Trump has made a joint election appearance with her husband United States President Donald Trump, heaping praise on his work for making the country “respected again”.

Appearing at a rally in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday the First Lady was greeted with cheers as she gave a speech in President Trump’s honour.

The couple put on an uncharacteristically affectionate display, holding hands as they walked on stage and Mrs Trump even embraced Mr Trump as he planted a kiss on her cheek.

Sporting large shades as she addressed the rally, Mrs Trump wore a sleeveless leopard print dress with a black belt and Christian Louboutin stilettos in what was her first joint campaign appearance alongside President Trump.

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Donald Trump and Melania Trump held hands during the Tampa rally. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

The couple, who aren’t known for their public displays of affection, even stopped for a kiss. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

It’s only her second official campaign appearance, with the First Lady doing a solo event in Pennsylvania earlier this week after recovering from coronavirus.

In her speech Mrs Trump said her husband had been a “law and order president” who had

“blocked out the noise and focused on you, the American people”.

“In a time when hate, negativity and fear are the messages the media streams into our homes and the large tech companies are protecting political censorship we need to remember what is really important,” she said.

“My husband’s administration is focused on the future, the health and safety of the American people, the education and wellbeing of our children, the safety and security of our streets and communities and the protection of our fundamental family values.”

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The US President and First Lady embraced in front of the rally crowd. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

It was the couple’s first joint campaign appearance. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

Mrs Trump said President Trump had made America “respected again” while the “economy soared and unemployment shrank”.

“Donald tries to protect and support all our people. He also fully supports our men and women in uniform,” she said.

She also praised President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the US record the highest number of confirmed cases and over 230,000 deaths.

“Now, because of our amazing medical capabilities and resources, we are in the process of developing powerful therapeutics and a vaccine,” Mrs Trump said.

“A vaccine is not a partisan issue. If you are not supporting the safe production of a vaccine, you are not supporting the health and safety of the American people.”

Mrs Trump’s appearance comes as the couple have been plagued with wild rumours on social media about a First Lady body double, as well as claims from a former White House insider about their “very strange” relationship.

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First Lady Melania Trump spoke to Trump supporters before her husband President Donald Trump gave a campaign speech. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP.

A photo taken on October 22 of Mrs Trump exiting a helicopter with President Trump had many on Twitter claim that it wasn’t really her, pointing to the fact that her smile looked different and she was wearing large sunglasses.

Omarosa Manigault Newman, who first met Mr Trump when she was a contestant on The Apprentice and previously worked in the White House before exiting in December 2017, said she had seen things that “would make your head spin”.

“It’s a very strange marriage. I’m very cautious to comment on the dynamics of a marriage because you never know what goes on behind closed doors,” she told British breakfast television program Lorraine.

“But I have known this couple since they were dating, they got married a year after The Apprentice aired.

“What I have observed in the last 17 years would make your head spin. Sometimes they like each other but sometimes she (Melania Trump) is repulsed by him.”