A picture does indeed paint a thousand words. I am sure many, many people were shaking their heads when they saw Donald Trump bound up the stairs of the White House on January 20, 2017, leaving his wife way behind as if she were the maid.
The scene was the front staircase of the White House in Washington DC, and the day was the one on which President Barack Obama demitted office and Donald Trump moved in to assume the Presidency of the United States of America. Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle were all style and grace. They stood at the top of the stairs waiting for Mr. Trump and his wife Melania to alight from their vehicle and come to greet them before entering the White House in what for the United States is an honored tradition in the seamless transfer of power from one president to the next. The Obamas were all smiles. The black official car drew up the curb, and Mr. Trump came out.
Traditionally the President-elect will alight, wait for his wife to come out from the other side of the vehicle and come around the back thereof, and then the two together will climb the stairs and approach the outgoing President and First Lady to exchange cordial greetings. Then the four enter the White House. Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, two George Bushes, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama all waited for their wives before they went up the stairs to greet the outgoing first couple. Someone took the time to research the photograph archives, and the pictures clearly show the new first couples walking together to approach the outgoing President and First Lady.
It appears that Donald Trump is different. Millions of people saw very plainly as he came out of his vehicle and never paused or stopped. He walked right up the stairs and started greeting Michelle and Barack Obama. His poor wife, who alighted the left side of the car and walked around the rear carrying a light blue box (a gift no doubt for Michelle Obama), had to walk up the staircase on her own. Mr. Trump did not even look around to see if she was alright, and when she arrived at the top of the stairs there was an awkward moment when Mrs. Obama did not know where to put the gift that Mrs. Trump had presented to her.
What manner of man is Mr. Trump? Obviously he seems to be a man who does not care about accompanying his wife. To him is she a mere appendage? I was completely incredulous on seeing the images unfold. When the traditional reception greeting by both couples was complete, Mr. Trump marched ahead of all three others into the White House!! It was clearly seen when Barack and Michelle Obama placed their arms around Mrs. Melania on either side of her back and gently steered her as they all trailed behind Mr. Trump to go inside the building.
You know, when I was growing up I had the excellent fortune of having a Dad who was the perfect gentleman. He and my Mom taught all of us good, sound manners. It is unheard of that a male should prance past his partner when they arrive together at any venue. If you are walking on the street, the boy must make sure that the girl is on the inside while he walks closer to the traffic. If a boy is on a bicycle, he must get off and walk his bike alongside the young woman he is accompanying. And when you drop off someone at his/her home you wait to see him/her get inside before driving off. Soon the manners become second nature. My husband and my three brothers always show these kinds of courtesies, and I believe all men should.
Once more, the world is lamenting that this individual is now firmly ensconced in the White House in the United States Capital. A hyper-narcissist, obsessed in his first week in office with losing the American popular vote and with worries that the numbers at his inauguration were paltry when compared to Barack Obama’s. To conclude this little missive what more can I say but Manners Maketh the Man?? !! Please go figure.