The U.S. Army sergeant who danced with Melania Trump at Donald Trump’s Commander-in-Chief Ball on Monday has shared what the First Lady said to him.
The event, held to celebrate the start of Trump’s second term as President, featured the presidential couple, along with Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, taking the stage to dance with members of the U.S. military.
During the ball, Trump, returning to the Oval Office after his previous term from 2017 to 2021, danced with Sergeant Tatiana Saldana from the United States Space Force. Meanwhile, JD and Usha Vance were paired with service members from the Marine Corps and Navy, respectively.
Melania Trump partnered with Sergeant Henry Waller, and their dance quickly gained attention on social media. Videos of the two waltzing gracefully, smiling at one another, were widely shared. However, it was a brief moment when Melania leaned in to whisper something to Waller that sparked the most discussion.
Adding to the intrigue, lip-readers were busy discerning what Barron Trump might have said to outgoing President Joe Biden, as well as attempting to decode what Donald and Melania were discussing during the Inaugural Ball. For those keen to dive into the numerous side stories surrounding Inauguration Day, there was certainly no shortage of material to explore.
It’s no surprise, then, that many were eager to learn what Melania had whispered into the ear of the sergeant she danced with at her husband’s Commander-in-Chief Ball.
If you count yourself among the curious, you’re in luck: the mystery has been solved, thanks to Sergeant Henry Waller himself.
In an interview with Inside Edition, Waller opened up about his once-in-a-lifetime experience, candidly admitting that he was “trying to contain” his composure throughout the memorable moment.
“It was fantastic—she’s a really good dancer,” said Sergeant Henry Waller, who danced with Melania Trump at the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball on the night of the inauguration. All eyes were on the soldier as he stepped in to dance with the First Lady, giving her a twirl. pic.twitter.com/PmHVU9D06s
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“I walked out on stage. I was trying to contain my composure, but we were told that it’s not like ceremonial composure. We can smile if you want to,” he explained.
He added, “I was just overwhelmed with joy being out on the stage where all these people are cheering for me.”
When questioned about what the First Lady said to him during their dance, Waller shared: “I asked her how her night was going. She said it was going good. She asked me how mine was. I said, ‘It was fantastic’.”
Waller was also quizzed on whether Melania was a good dancer, to which he enthusiastically replied, “Oh, yeah, she’s a really good dancer.”
Melania and the White House
The Trumps had ample time to prepare for their latest—and final—four-year term in the White House following Donald’s decisive election win last year. However, questions remain about how much time Melania will actually spend at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Rumors have circulated that the 54-year-old was less than enthusiastic about returning to the White House during the years between her husband’s first term and his 2024 campaign. In fact, amidst the controversies surrounding Trump’s legal battles, Melania largely stayed out of the public eye. Additionally, a renegotiation of her prenuptial agreement in 2023 fueled speculation about potential marital tensions.
Despite this, the First Lady made a strong return on election day, leaving no doubt that their public image as a united couple remains intact.
Still, reports suggest Melania will not reside full-time in the White House this term. Instead, she plans to divide her time between Washington, D.C., and New York, where she is focused on supporting their son Barron, who is currently attending school.