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Melania Trump's reserved public persona has frequently been viewed by online commentators as appearing detached or discontented, especially during appearances with her husband.

This perception gains additional weight through media scrutiny of her recent behind-the-scenes documentary Melania: 20 Days to History, which provides new insight into how the First Lady chooses to conduct herself in public view.

The film, which Melania co-produced, depicts her primarily managing her own diary between appointments, dress fittings, and private moments, mostly without her husband - who makes only fleeting appearances.

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The documentary has been described as showcasing her inclination towards privacy, structured routines, and maintaining control above all else - with the BBC observing that she seems most comfortable in quiet, detail-oriented environments.

Supporting this analysis, psychotherapist and behavioural confidence specialist Shelly Dar suggests what many observers interpret as unease might actually be something quite different, reports the Mirror US.

"When we analyse Melania Trump, it can look like she's sad or worried, but what we're really seeing is her restraint," Dar explains. "Her public presence is so controlled, so neutral, and very deliberate."

Dar notes that this restraint becomes particularly evident when Melania appears alongside Donald Trump. "As First Lady, that restraint tightens even more because of the pressure and the cost of mistakes is very high. Every movement, every expression, every word is scrutinized."

Melania Trump is frequently seen as aloof, detached, or uneasy during public outings with her husband.

Dar puts this down to her restrained emotional expression.

"She shows little visible emotion, her facial expression stays fairly neutral, and she uses minimal gestures," she says. "In a culture that expects First Ladies to appear warm, expressive, and emotionally available, that lack of display is easy to misread."

Dar stresses that Melania doesn't put on emotional performances for others' comfort. "She doesn't perform emotions for comfort, something we're very used to in the Western world," she explains.

"That absence can feel unsettling to people who expect emotional signaling."

The difference becomes more apparent when Melania makes solo appearances. "She appears more composed in solo appearances," Dar notes.

"Her posture is steadier, her pacing feels intentional, and her presence is more self-contained."

Dar identifies autonomy as a crucial element. "Her presentation suggests a strong preference for control over how she's perceived," she states.

"When she's alone, she's managing only herself. When she's beside her husband, she's managing a role.

"Alongside Donald Trump, her body language often tightens," she elaborates. "There's less movement, more neutrality. That doesn't necessarily signal emotional distance. It signals precision."

Dar characterises this as intentional distance rather than unease.

"This contrast reinforces the sense that she's carefully separating her public identity from the partnership dynamic," she explains. "She appears more self-possessed alone, and more guarded beside him.

"She's operating on a global stage, often speaking in a second language where every word is analyzed," Dar observes. "That level of scrutiny naturally produces careful, rehearsed delivery and a guarded presence."

And it's precisely this, Dar contends, that leaves many feeling uneasy. "She's not offering emotional access. She's signaling separation, precision, and autonomy. That's the tiny signal people keep misreading - and that's what unsettles them."