In the light of the upcoming NATO Summit (11 - 12 July 2018), it's very much worth revisiting last years' Summit - and one of Donald Trump's infamous displays. What follows is a reposting of an analysis from 25 May 2017. Updated cross-references are included at the bottom of the page.
Today, while at NATO Headquarters, Donald Trump shoved his way through a crowd of other heads-of-state. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this incident.
As Donald Trump grabs the upper arm of Montenegro's Prime Minister, Dusko Markovic, Trump's expression simultaneously displays Disgust.
Then, as Trump pulls and then pushes Markovic, the Montenegrin is startled - while the American President's face continues expressing disgust.
Not only is this is a dramatic violation of interpersonal (intimate) space, but it's an aggressive physical act, which in most professional contexts would be classified as a form of harassment or even assault.
Dusko Markovic managed to respond to Donald Trump's personal space violation by quickly positioning his hand against Trump's lower back. In this moment he's "counter-pushing" Trump away from him. It's a watered-down/analog behavior of "punching back".
Although it's only a limited, lateral view - we can see Dalia Grybauskaitė's expression (the President of Lithuania) on the far right side of this image. Her mouth is partially open (slack-jawed) and her forehead and eyebrows are elevated. She's in disbelief. This is an expression of emotional shock and moment of emotional processing.
Note how Trump's jaw is jutted forward in this moment. This action is indicative of the adrenaline surge he's experiencing from pushing his way through a crowd of people.
Dalia Grybauskaitė is increasingly shocked.
Dusko Markovic is suppressing his smile - and beginning to laugh.
While Dusko Markovic is continuing to suppress simultaneous laughter - along with disgust, Trump performs a false-adjustment of his suit jacket. It's an example of what is known as an "Alpha-Upregulator". Very much like a gorilla beating his chest, Trump's affirming to himself and everyone else he is THE alpha (from Trump's POV) - and that he has put them in their collective (beta) places.
Although we don't know what she's saying, we see President Dalia Grybauskaitė gesture with her palm-up. This illustrator is, generally speaking, not alpha, but beta behavior. However, depending on the other simultaneous nonverbals and verbals signals - it can be an alpha-beta hybrid. While it may involve an "asking" or a suggestion to "consider" - it's friendly, disarming, and projects a symbolic "please" emotional tone. Thus it's rapport building and engenders diplomacy.
President Trump often displays the double palms up - however, he over-uses it in terms of both frequency and in amplitude ('performed' a hyperbolic nature).
Trump retorts with a palm-down index finger pointing/jabbing. This illustrator is hyper-alpha, hyper-aggressive, and universally offensive in every culture in the World.
Trump then rotates his torso away from President Grybauskaitė (Dissing/Disrespecting behavior) - but then fluxes downward to a beta emotional state as he configures his hands in a fig-leaf (aka genital guarding) position. A part of his psyche knows he has over-stepped, thus he is (subconsciously and only momentarily) down-regulating his aggressiveness.
SUMMARY: Donald Trump's shoving and pushing his way through a group of other World leaders at the 2017 NATO Summit is a classic example of dramatic "out-of-context" behavior (e.g., This was not a contest, nor was it a platform for physical prowess). Trump displayed quintessential hyper-alpha body language, multiple violations of interpersonal (intimate) space, and aggressive narcissistic behavior.
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See also:
Body Language Analysis No. 4319: Jim Jordan Fox Interview - regarding Allegations of Ignoring Complaints of Sexual Abuse at Ohio State - Part II
Body Language Analysis No. 4317: Scott Pruitt Confronted in Restaurant by Kristin Mink
Body Language Analysis No. 4315: Rep. Jim Jordan grills Rod Rosenstein at DOJ hearing
Body Language Analysis No. 4312: South Korea Defeats Germany at The World Cup
Body Language Analysis No. 4311: Jeff Sessions, "We never really intended to do that"
Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags
Body Language Analysis No. 4276: Waffle House Hero James Shaw Jr. Meets His NBA Idol Dwyane Wade
Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement
Body Language Analysis No. 4249: Will Smith, Sophia the Robot, Robot-Empathy, and Responding in Context
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