The hand swat was not a royal reception, it happened in Israel. Bibi and wife were holding hands walking on the red carpet to Donald's right. He looked over and saw that and realized maybe he could show some affection, even if artificial, for his wife. So he reached out with his left hand toward his wife who swatted his hand away and she moved away from him to avoid any repeat.

But today, on arriving in Rome, at the top of the stairway exiting Air Force One, it happened again. Apparently the President thought Melania got the message not to do it again, reached for her hand and she pulls it away. He responds by putting his hand on her butt. So smooth.

They don't live together, had separate quarters in the NYC home. While I am sure there are some feelings between the Trumps and she does not wish him ill, after all his $ucce$$ is hers too, there are never any hints of affection which we have seen in every POTUS marriage in my life. She is a trained model, was very successful at it, and clearly has the skills to be poised to be aware of her body language and smile. You see none of it with her spouse.

I take no pleasure in the misery of Donald's marriage as he is the President and he is in so many ways unprepared by temperament and lack of experience to do the job, and adding to it the stress of public humiliation and a wife who is disdainful only adds to his inability to focus on learning and doing his job./s