Lip reader reveals Trump’s emotional 7-word exchange with Melania as he steps off Air Force One in Texas

As Donald and Melania Trump descended from Air Force One, a private moment between them was decoded by professional lip reader Nicola Hickling
UPDATED JUL 13, 2025
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at Lackland Air Force Base to survey damage and meet with first responders and victims of last week's flash flooding on July 11, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at Lackland Air Force Base to survey damage and meet with first responders and victims of last week's flash flooding on July 11, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas (Getty Images)

KERRVILLE, TEXAS: Donald Trump was captured on video sharing a private, emotional observation with first lady Melania Trump, one that’s now been decoded by a professional lip reader.

As the couple descended from Air Force One on Friday to meet victims of the catastrophic July 4 flash floods that killed over 120 people, lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Irish Star that the president turned to Melania and quietly said, “Look at how shaken up everyone is.”

Lip reader decodes emotional moment as Donald Trump meets victims

KERRVILLE, TEXAS - JULY 11: President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott meet with local emergency services personnel as they survey flood damage along the Guadalupe River on July 11, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Trump traveled to Texas one week after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River swept through cities, mobile home parks and summer camps, killing 120 people. Ninety-six of those killed were in Kerr County, where the toll includes at least 36 children. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott meet with local emergency services personnel as they survey flood damage along the Guadalupe River on July 11, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump added, “I certainly want to work with them. We’re a fair country. I’ll formalize the check, they will finish their training.”

Trump offered a salute and expressed his thanks to someone nearby before raising his fist and asking, “How are you?” to an unseen individual. On Friday, July 11, he and Melania spent time in Texas, meeting with first responders and grieving families affected by the tragic July 4 flash floods.

Expert observes Melania Trump's gesture toward Donald Trump gives ‘family visit’ feel

President Donald Trump departs the White House with first lady Melania Trump on July 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to travel to Central Texas today to meet with first responders and local elected officials involved with the recovery process from last week's flash flooding event that has claimed more than 120 lives. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump departs the White House with First Lady Melania Trump on July 11, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

First lady Melania Trump offered more than just words of comfort; her physical gestures toward Donald Trump conveyed a quiet, personal intensity that one expert says reframed the trip as more than just a formal appearance.

Body language expert Judi James noted that the pair’s unusually affectionate public behavior, including walking with their arms around each other and Trump’s protective hand guiding Melania, stood out sharply against the backdrop of disaster recovery.



 

“Their tactile and affectionate body language suggests that this is a 'family' visit rather than a formal one with both Donald and Melania looking rather emotional as they walk together with their arms around each other or his hand steering her in a protective gesture,” James told Irish Star.

The couple toured heavily damaged neighborhoods and met with first responders and families grieving loved ones lost in the catastrophic July 4 flash floods, which killed over 120 people.

Melania Trump honors victims of Texas floods with emotional tribute

First lady Melania Trump participates in a round table event with President Donald Trump at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Trump traveled to Texas one week after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River swept through cities, mobile home parks and summer camps, killing 120 people. Ninety-six of those killed were in Kerr County, where the toll includes at least 36 children. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump participates in a round table event with President Donald Trump at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

First lady Melania Trump offered an emotional message of solidarity and compassion during a visit to flood-ravaged communities in Texas on Friday, paying tribute to the dozens of young lives lost and extending heartfelt support to their grieving families.

“My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls,” Melania said. “We are grieving with you.”

The couple also spent time with grieving families, offering comfort in the wake of the tragedy. “We pray with them, we hug, we hold hands.”

Melania gently held up a bracelet gifted to her in memory of the Camp Mystic victims, where 27 girls and counselors died in the flash floods. “I met beautiful young ladies. They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that lost their lives. So we are here to honor them and also to give the support,” she shared.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump shows a bracelet she said she was given as a memento to the girls killed in last week's flash flooding during a roundtable meeting at the Hill Country Youth Event Center on July 11, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Trump and her husband President Donald Trump traveled to Texas one week after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River swept through cities, mobile home parks and summer camps, killing 120 people. Ninety-six of those killed were in Kerr County, where the toll includes at least 36 children. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump shows a bracelet she said she was given as a memento to the girls killed in last week's flash flooding during a roundtable meeting at the Hill Country Youth Event Center on July 11, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Despite the scale of the devastation, Melania made a personal pledge to those she met. “I will be back,” she said. “I promise to them. And I just pray for them and giving them my strength and love.”

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