On Friday, 1 August 2014, President Obama held a press conference. Among other issues he acknowledged that in the aftermath of 9/11, "... we tortured some folks ...".
Throughout the vast majority of this segment of this press conference, Barack Obama was leaning on the lectern with his right elbow. This is rare for a President - and President Obama in particular. It sends signals of a beta emotional tone, low confidence, low commitment, a lackadaisical mindset and low priority. Because of this posture, President Obama was only able to use his right hand minimally and it remained largely obscured to the audience and viewing public. The less we see of a person's hands - the less we trust them (e.g., held beneath a table during depositions, voir dire, interrogations, negotiations, during witness testimonies in court, etc.).
This is extremely poor nonverbal behavior for anyone to exhibit - especially a head-of-state - and particularly on such an important topic. It is indeed rare for Mr. Obama. He did display similar body language (see below) against Mitt Romney in the 2012 campaign during the first debate - and that was the one in which most agree Romney beat him hands down.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2137: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama - First Presidential Debate - Barack's Bad Body Language
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2905: Paul George's Injury - a Common Body Language Signal of Emotional Processing
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150: Body Language Advice for President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161: Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney - What Did They Do With Their Hands When They Weren't Talking?
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2876: President Obama on Key Bridge regarding John Boehner's Lawsuit - "So Sue Me"
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language
Negotiation Body Language Secret # 337: Low Confidence Stance - Michele Bachmann
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