The US Army sergeant who danced with Melania Trump during Donald Trump’s Commander-in-Chief ball on Monday has revealed what the first lady said to him.
The event, part of the festivities to mark the beginning of Trump’s second term as POTUS, saw the presidential couple, as well as Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha, take the stage before dancing with members of the US military.
Trump, returning to the Oval Office after his first stint between 2017 and 2021, was partnered with Sergeant Tatiana Saldana from the United States Space Force for a dance, while JD and Usha Vance were paired with members of the Marine Corps and Navy respectively.
Melania, meanwhile, shared the floor with Sergeant Henry Waller, and their dance caused quite the stir on social media. Clips of the pair waltzing away were unsurprisingly shared far and wide, with Melania and Waller seen smiling at each other as they moved gracefully. Yet it was arguably the moment that the first lady whispered in Waller’s ear that garnered the most attention.
Trump’s Inauguration Day, which fell on Monday, January 20, proved a catalyst for any number of viral stories snapped up by mainstream media channels the world over.
Elon Musk’s so-dubbed “Nazi salute” has become a major talking point in the days following Trump’s swearing in, while Melania’s choice of hat for the big occasion was also dissected by the masses.
Add to that lip-readers earning their keep by discerning what Barron Trump might have said to outgoing president Joe Biden, as well as trying to work out what Donald and Melania were discussing during the Inaugural Ball, and those wanting to feast themselves on the side-stories relating to Inauguration Day had plenty to sink their teeth into.
It’s hardly a wonder, then, that many people were keen to find out what Melania had whispered in the ear of the aforementioned sergeant she was paired with for a dance at her husband’s Commander-in-Chief ball.
If you count yourself among that curious crowd then you’re in luck: we have the answer you’re looking for, courtesy of Sergeant Henry Waller himself.
In an interview with Inside Edition, Waller bared all regarding his once-in-a-lifetime experience, while admitting to “trying to contain” his composure.
"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
— 𝕍𝕚𝕠𝕝𝕒 𝕃𝕖𝕚𝕘𝕙 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕤 (@ViolaLeighBlues) January 23, 2025
“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,” Waller told Inside Edition.
“I was just overwhelmed with joy being out on the stage where all these people are cheering for me.”
When quizzed on what the first lady had said to him as they danced, Waller revealed: “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’.”
He was also asked if Melania was a good dancer, replying: “Oh, yeah, she’s a really good dancer.”
Melania and the White House
The Trumps have had plenty of time to prepare for their latest (and last) four-year stretch in the White House after Donald’s sweeping election victory last year, but it remains to be seen just how much time Melania will spend at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
It had been rumored that the 54-year-old was less than enthralled by the prospect of a return to the White House in the intervening years between her husband’s first term and his attempt to become president again in 2024. Indeed, in the storm of controversy relating to Trump’s legal issues Melania removed herself from the spotlight, and a renegotiation of her prenup with Donald in 2023 sparked speculation over the possibility of marital issues.
Yet the first lady returned with aplomb on election day, and there can now be no doubt that their union is as steadfast as it as ever been… at least where the public image is concerned.
Even so, it’s been widely reported that Melania will not be taking up full-time residency in the White House this time around, and instead plans to split her days between Washington and New York, where she and Donald’s son, Barron, is currently studying.
