On Wednesday 14 February 2018, Vice President Pence was asked about John Kelly's handling of the trouble associated with Rob Porter. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of some specific moments of this exchange.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE (beginning at 0:01): Well this administration has no tolerance [deep exhalation] - for domestic violence - nor should any - American. And as I said, and as the White House has said, ah, ah, ah, I, I think the White House could have handled his better. And I still feel that way. And that being said, um [deep inhalation], any more counsel I have on this, I'll, I'll share with the President of the United States.
JOURNALIST: Are you a hundred percent confident that General Kelly has been fully honest and transparent in his explanation of Rob [inward lip roll] Porter's departure?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: [deep inhalation] Ω There are very few [high pitch/mild voice crack] Americans or American families - that have served this nation more honorably - or sacrificed more for this country - than the family of General John Kelly. John Kelly's service in uniform, his distinguished service, ah, at our Department of Homeland Security where we saw dramatic reduction of illegal crossings at our southern border [deep inhalation] and his distinguished service as Chief of Staff - ah, gives me and the President great confidence (1:08) - in this good man. And I want the American people to know - not just John Kelly [deep inhalation] but family members in uniform - here - and gone - have served this nation with a love, a patriotism, and a passion - that should inspire us all.
JOURNALIST: So it sounds like you think he should stay.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE:[deep inhalation] John Kelly, ah, has a remarkable job, (1:33) as Chief of Staff for President of the United States, ah, and, ah, I look, I look forward to continuing to work with him, ah, for many, many months to come. (1:40 - 1:44)
During 0:30 - 0:31, the Vice President exhibits a good example of an Inward Lip Roll just after the journalist says, "Are you a hundred percent confident that General Kelly has been fully honest and transparent ..."
An Inward Lip Roll (ILR) indicates the suppressing of strong emotions so that they won't crescendo internally - and so they won't be manifested outwardly.
During 0:33 (notated by the Ω symbol), just prior to answering the journalist, Mike Pence displays a classic expression of regret with the left corner of his mouth. Simultaneously, he is looking down and to his right - the quadrant of gaze commonly associated with deep emotional states - such as regret and sadness.
At multiple crucial times during his statement, Mike Pence shook his head in a side-to-side classic illustrator/gesture/head shaking signifying No - when this action contradicted his positive verbal statements such as:
"... gives me and the President great confidence (1:08) - in this good man ..."
"... John Kelly, ah, has a remarkable job, (1:33) as Chief of Staff for President of the United States..."
"... I look forward to continuing to work with him, ah, for many, many months to come." (1:40 - 1:44)
Additional paralanguage tells include:
• Multiple significant stuttering episodes
• Multiple deep inhalations/exhalations
• Voice cracking
Notice too, how the Vice President did not want to discuss the topics of Rob Porter or John Kelly - attempting to evade questions by saying, "And that being said, um [deep inhalation], any more counsel I have on this, I'll, I'll share with the President of the United States."
Moreover, and very tellingly, the Vice President simply did not answer the questions which were asked.
Summary: Based on the Vice President's verbal, nonverbal, and paralanguage behavior exhibited in this video, Mike Pence believes that John Kelly was NOT being "... fully honest and transparent in his explanation of Rob Porter's departure". In addition, Pence's tells strongly suggests that Pence believes John Kelly will not be White House Chief of Staff much longer.
Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available
See also:
Body Language Analysis No. 4205: Chloe Kim, Albert Einstein, and Creativity
Body Language Analysis No. 4203: Mikaela Shiffrin and the R2E2 Expression
Body Language Analysis No. 4201: Donald Trump's reaction to Rob Porter Resignation
Body Language Analysis No. 4199: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, and their "Mission Impossible" Helicopter Stunt
Body Language Analysis No. 4188: Donald Trump Gets Booed at Davos for Calling the Press "Fake"
Body Language Analysis No. 4164: Emmanuel Macron's Rapport Destroyer
Body Language Analysis No. 4130: Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King regarding Charlie Rose
Body Language Analysis No. 4097: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and a Tennis Tongue Tell
Body Language Analysis No. 4063: The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson - Scott Peterson
________________________
