The very subtle clue Melania Trump was 'over-awed' by Xi's wife ... as she mirrors her every move

First Lady Melania Trump joined President Xi Jinping's spouse Madame Peng Liyuan for a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art on Thursday, marking a cultural exchange between the United States and China.After attending the opening ceremony for President Xi Jinping's arrival at the White House, the first spouses visited the Peacock Room in the museum, an elaborate showcase of Chinese blue and white Qing dynasty (1644-1911) porcelain.The two spouses paused and viewed a famous 'Princess from the Land of Porcelain' painting in the room by artist James McNeill Whistler, while museum curators explained details about the story behind the painting. Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that the two spouses appeared to be immersed in the lavish art display, displaying a sense of awe.The woman was modeled by Christina Spartali for the painting, a young woman of Greek descent who is dressed in a kimono and holding a fan. The style of the painting is of Asian origin, inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e prints and the figures painted on Chinese porcelain, according to the museum. The First Lady wore a black single-breasted light tweed jacket and a black skirt by Alexander McQueen and black Christian Louboutin stilettos. Madame Peng wore a navy blue cheongsam dress with a high mandarin collar and a single silver floral brooch. Madam Peng Liyuan, left, and first lady Melania Trump visit the Smithsonian's National Museum Of Asian Art Peng Liyuan (L) and U.S. first lady Melania Trump visited the Peacock room featuring elaborate The Peacock room at the Smithsonian Madame Peng Liyuan, second left, and first lady Melania Trump, right, take a tour at the Smithsonian's National Museum Of Asian Art with museum director Chase Robinson, second right'Melania's very severe and stylish black suit with its side-button jacket is only some white piping away from being an exact match to Madam Peng's jacket and the two women walk and stand in almost identical ways here, as they did when they sat watching Trump's speech,' James told the Daily Mail. 'Melania's desire to mirror Peng suggests respect to the point of maybe feeling slightly over-awed by the woman who was a famous opera singer in China and a Major General in the People's Liberation Army,' James added.The Peacock room is decorated in blue, green and gold with a second Whistler painting of two fighting peacocks on the main wall, depicting a battle between 'Art and Money.' The room was designed by architect Thomas Jeckyll and painted by Whistler in the 1870s for English shipping magnate Frederick R Leyland.The collection was later bought by art collector Charles Lang Freer before it was acquired by the Smithsonian in 1920.Afterwards, the pair participated in a private tour of Gallery 13, a showcase of imperial and historical Chinese art focused on the historical rules of Chinese dynasties from 1368 to 1912.Trump and Peng then enjoyed a performance of the a children’s choir performance by local students from the Hope Chinese School as they waved Chinese and American flags. The group of 36 students, led by their choir director, performed two songs, 'Jasmine Flower' and Songs & Smiles.At one point, Madame Peng, who is a famous opera singer in China, sang along with the songs and clapped her hands. The First Lady smiled at Madame Peng during the performance and applauded and said, “Bravo!” after each song. Madam Peng Liyuan, left, and first lady Melania Trump react as children perform and wave flags Madam Peng Liyuan and U.S. first lady Melania Trump pose for a photo with children from the Hope Chinese School First lady Melania Trump viewing the elaborate Peacock room in the Smithsonian's National Museum Of Asian Art Madam Peng Liyuan (L) and U.S. first lady Melania Trump react as choir students from the Hope Chinese School performTrump and Peng are familiar with each other after they first met in April 2017 at the president's club at Mar-a-Lago.In November 2017, Melania Trump joined the president for his state visit to Beijing, and the pair toured the Forbidden City and visited a primary school together.The first lady, however, did not go on the president's official visit to Beijing in May 2026.