Body language expert shares signs Ivanka Trump has fallen from 'First Lady' and 'anointed child' status

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner might’ve been up on stage for Donald Trump’s big victory speech last night, but if you were looking closely you’d notice something was off.

Ivanka, wearing a bold blue velvet pantsuit, was there with her husband Jared. They were standing a bit farther from the main action, off to Trump’s right near his new VP JD Vance and his wife, Usha. But this time, it didn’t feel like Ivanka was her dad’s go-to “favorite" as she was during the 2016 glory days.

Remember that first win? Back then, Ivanka was front and center — practically like Trump’s own First Lady.

Ivanka Trump goes from front-and-center to the background

As body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail, “When Trump became 45th US President, Ivanka's body language behavior and her stage positioning defined her more as First Lady than Trump's daughter. Looking fiercely ambitious, loyal and totally immersed in the game, she knocked Melania and the other Trump children into the long grass."

Fast forward to now, and it’s clear Ivanka’s not taking center stage anymore. "Melania is now presented as Trump's greatest asset and jewel in the political crown," James said. "Her styling is corporate power-dressing and her poses are confident and strong."

Trump’s youngest Barron has also stepped up. James even called him the “anointed child,” saying he took on a “strong, alpha pose” next to his parents, fully embracing his new role.

Meanwhile, Ivanka is further in the background and Lara Trump (Eric’s wife) is suddenly everywhere, practically jumping into every shot with Trump with what James calls a “look of victorious determination.”

Ivanka Trump's body language says a lot

Judi James didn’t miss the fact that Ivanka Trump’s body language was way off this time around.

“You have to look to find Ivanka now,” James said. “Relegated to the chorus line, she arrived stuck in the bottleneck at the entrance to the stage, and whereas Trump would once have been seeking her out and presenting her to the audience, she and Jared now seem to be expected to forage for attention on the outskirts, behind Vance and his wife.”

Then there’s Ivanka’s demeanor—James says it’s looking way more detached. “She is no longer responding fully to everything her dad says, like Lara,” James pointed out. “Her eye expression tended to look distanced and a little sad, and she was noticeably not in tune with the audience and other friends and family when it came to applause.”

"While others clapped excitedly, we can see Ivanka and Jared standing to attention with their arms straight to their sides," she added.

A new look and a new focus?

Judi James thinks this might’ve been coming for a while. She noticed that since Ivanka Trump’s court appearance about a year ago, she’s been experimenting with a new vibe on social media.

"Suddenly the super-smart icy cool daughter was posting photos that, like Barbie, presented her in several different surprising looks like 'rock chic' Ivanka, 'cute, girly' Ivanka, and even 'surfing' Ivanka," James shared. "She seemed to relax her brand and the normally uptight-looking Jared almost relaxed beside her."

But last night, Jared was back to looking pretty “rigid” while Ivanka’s expressions gave away a hint of anxiety.

James explained, “There is one photo of her looking across in the direction of her dad with an expression of anxiety and another where her eye expression seems to suggest sadness," adding, "Her smile looks softer now, especially next to Jared's rictus grin." 

Ivanka’s outfit also had a whole new vibe—James said her look last night was much softer than usual. “No more political color block dresses; she has opted for a soft blue velvet teamed with satin here,” James observed. “Her hair is allowed to tumble down one shoulder and her red lipstick looks out of place in the political arena.”

Plus, if you’ve been following her on social, you might’ve noticed she’s been steering clear of anything too political lately. Right before the election, Ivanka stayed quiet on the campaign front and posted a list of “17 lessons” she’d learned after her 43rd birthday instead.

She insisted family and friends “are everything" and reminded her followers to “forgive people” and that “everyone is a teacher.” In the days leading up to Election Day, she was all about sharing peaceful snaps of flowers and horses, nothing remotely to do with politics despite her father's historic candidacy.