Donald Trump is hosting Emmanuel Macron in the first State visit of the American's President's Administration. On Tuesday, while with his French counterpart, President Trump displayed multiple nonverbal faux pas - one of which is analyzed here.
Beginning at 0:00, President Trump says, "Mr. President, they're all saying what a great relationship we have and they're actually correct, it's not fake news - finally it's not fake news - so, it's a great honor - great honor that you're here. But we do have a very special relationship - in fact, I'll get that little piece of dandruff off [mumble, laugh] little piece - We have to make him perfect. He is perfect. So it is really, ah - it is really great to be with you and you are a special friend. Thank you. Thank you."
During 0:16 - 0:18, President Trump brushes an alleged piece of dandruff off of Macon's left lapel - three times with his right index finger - and then his with the rest of his hand off of his left shoulder - and follows it up with a touch on Macron's left elbow (0:20).
This short display is rife with body language blunders - and messages.
• The act of brushing dandruff, lint, dirt, etc. off another person is called "grooming" - and the vast majority of the time, such an act between adults (non-relatives) signals affection and/or physical attraction. This is particularly true when this violation of personal/intimate space is performed without permission - which is exactly what Trump did here.
Yet, it's not that simple ...
• It's highly doubtfully there was dandruff on Macron. Trump most likely fabricated this flaw in order to rationalize violating the French President's personal/intimate space.
• If there truly was dandruff on Macron's lapel, why call attention to it? Even if you were alone with another person - doing so would very often be ill-advised. And this act is particularly true - with a Head of State - in the Oval Office - in front of reporters - on live television.
So why did President Trump do this?
• To verbally embarrass Macron
• To physically violate Macron's personal space/intimate space
• To exert dominance over him
• It's a symptom of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
But most importantly:
• This violation of Emmanuel Macron's personal/intimate space, in large measure, is yet another manifestation of Donald Trump's Impulse Control Disorder. Although in this example it's not sexually-motivated, this behavior is very similar to what then Candidate Trump exemplified when, captured on the Access Hollywood tape, he said:
"I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab 'em by the pussy. You can do anything."
Summary: While such a public display of grooming is typically a sign of affection and/or sexual attraction - whether the dandruff was fictitious or real, Donald Trump's grooming of Emmanuel Macron was motivated by Trump's desire to embarrass, dominate, and belittle him. The American feels threatened by the French leader. It's also indicative of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Although some people may find Trump's action amusing, it's of profound importance - for this violation of Macron's personal/intimate space is one more glaring symptom of Trump's impulse control disorder.
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See also:
Body Language Analysis No. 4269: Michael Cohen and the Joker Smile
Body Language Analysis No. 4267: Donald Trump and Pretending to Pray
Body Language Analysis No. 4264: Criminal Profiling • Sketch of Man Who Allegedly Threatened Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) Over Her Affair with Donald Trump
Body Language Analysis No. 4262: Wendy Vitter, the U.S. District Court, and Brown v. Board of Education
Body Language Analysis No. 4231: Sam Nunberg Interview (Part III) • Diminished Impulse Control, Frustration, and Anxiety
Body Language Analysis No. 4198: Lupita Nyong'o, Black Panther, and Attention to Detail
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3873: Brie Larson's Eyes, The Bachelor, and the Edge of Consciousness
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3823: Nina Dobrev, Flyboarding, Laughter and a Rapport/Bonding Amplifier
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3523: Jaws - "You're Going to Need a Bigger Boat"
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