There's one crucial expression Donald Trump never once displayed during any of his statements regarding the recent mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
It's certainly an expression he should have made - for it's indicative of the emotions of sadness, grief - and importantly, the empathy one feels for other peoples' suffering. This is true regardless of whether their suffering is emotional, physical, or both.
First, look carefully at the image below. On the evening of 28 January 1986, Ronald Reagan gave a speech regarding the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (the video of the entire speech is included at the bottom of this article).
Note that the muscles of President Reagan's central forehead are contracted and vectored upward (an elevated central forehead contraction [CFC]). Simultaneously, his medial (inner) eyebrows are also elevated - while at the same time, his outer (lateral) eyebrows are lowered. The corners of his mouth are also down-turned.
Regardless of your political affiliation, if you were watching
President Reagan's speech that night, you had no doubt Ronald Reagan was
truly grieving for the families and loved-ones of those seven
Astronauts. It's also not surprising (to those with modest or high
empathy quotients) that just by looking at a picture or video of another
person who is sad, suffering, or grieving (without even knowing any
specifics) - will engender those same emotions in the viewer.
Grieving
is absolutely necessary for healing. When a leader grieves, they give
both a momentary and historical personification to our collective
grieving. It's in these moments when our grief is shared that
perhaps we're most human.
SUMMARY: Donald Trump has never displayed any expression indicative of empathy, sadness, or grieving - associated with the deaths of eleven people and wounding of six others at recent Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting. Nor did the President display these expressions after the Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, the Charlottesville Riots and the death there of Heather Heyer, the Texas First Baptist Church massacre, the Las Vegas mass shooting, or any other national tragedy.
Empathy, by definition, is never conveyed via a simple reading of a prepared statement. Empathy must be felt and must be displayed. Donald Trump has yet to publicly display any expressions of empathy, sadness, or grieving since he announced his candidacy on 16 June 2015.
Earlier today, during Shabbat services, a mass shooting occurred at Tree of Life (L’Simcha) Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eleven people were killed and at least six others were injured, two of them critically. Before opening fire, the alleged shooter, Robert D. Bowers, yelled, "All Jews must die!"
The above image of Robert Bowers is from one of his social media sites. From a nonverbal perspective, we can glean valuable information in its analysis.
While not extreme, Bowers is clearly displaying a blend of disgust and contempt. A primary component of each these emotional displays is revealed in the area above his upper lip and below his nose. You'll note this 'mustache area' is contracted and tightened (a characteristic of both disgust and contempt). Careful examination, however, reveals it's slightly more tense on one side (here, on HIS right). In this context, this particular asymmetry is indicative of contempt (which may be also manifested with left side bias). Surprisingly, many will confuse such mild (or even moderate) snarl-like expressions with a type of smile. This is a profound and common mistake.
Flaring of the nostrils is another component of both disgust and contempt, although with contempt the flaring is also more pronounced on one side (again, in this case, Bowers' right).
You'll also note that Robert Bowers is not looking directly at the camera. His eyes are turned toward the camera - but his head is only slightly turned - and a bit also with his torso. People will look directly with much less frequency toward those they don't trust/believe, don't respect, and/or don't like.
SUMMARY: When screening people for employment or for any other purpose, social media is a valuable tool in predicting their behavior - including with threat assessment. Social media often acts as a type of reverse Rorschach test - telegraphing to the world one's most prominent thought-emotions. Certainly, individuals who chronically display contempt, disgust, and/or anger (either on social media or in real-time) will not all commit violent crimes - but, crucially, those who do show these emotions with significant frequency will virtually all have impulse control disorder.
The following is a partial nonverbal analysis of President Trump's 17 October 2018 statement regarding Saudi Arabia and murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Beginning at 0:52, just after a journalist says, "Are you surprised that they haven't - turned it over, or -?" Trump then pauses, looks up and to HIS left and then answers, "No. Ah, I'm not sure yet that it exists - probably does, possibly does".
As still images do not capture the dynamics, please take the time to view this behavior on the video.
The upper left quadrant (his upper left) is the direction to which the vast majority of right-handed people look during moments when recalling a visual memory (0:54 - 0:55).
If the President was, in his mind's-eye, imagining if such a video did exist and what it might contain - or if he knew an audio/video existed but he had not yet heard/viewed it, Trump would have looked to HIS upper right - the quadrant to which we gaze when visually constructing a scene which we haven't witnessed.
While this gaze-associated epiphenomenon is not true 100% of the time, if a particular person's behavior has been studied in association with how they respond with verifiable and undisputed past and future events (e.g., Their behavior has been normalized [aka normed]) - it is highly reliable. After thousands of evaluations, Trump's gaze-associated behavior reliably fits this pattern.
Thus, in this context, this specific nonverbal dynamic indicates that, with
very high probability, United States authorities have acquired the audio and/or video recording in question - AND, importantly, Trump has heard/seen the audio/video of
Jamal Khashoggi's torture and killing.
If you listen carefully, you'll also notice the diminished volume - as well as the higher pitch of the President's voice as he says the word, "No" (0:55). This paralanguage pattern is strongly associated with deception.
Now, let's backtrack and scrutinize a particularly interesting statement analysis tell. Beginning at 0:00, Trump says, "I'm not giving cover at all. Ah, with that being said, Saudi Arabia's been - a very important ally - of ours in the Middle East - 'n' we are - stopping Iran - we're not trying to stop, we're stopping Iran. We won a big step where we took away that ridiculous deal that was made by the previous administration ..."
The phrase, "with that being said", is a commonly-used preface in an effort to present a counter-argument. It's a phrase which is intended to show that the speaker is being transparent and presenting both sides of an argument. It's an attempt at - at least appearing to be objective. Trump, in fact, often uses these words in just such a manner. But not so here.
In this case, his use of the phrase, "with that being said" is peculiar and out of place - for, after saying, "I'm not giving cover at all" - he goes on to cite a reason why the relationship between Saudi
Arabia and the United States is valuable (the mutual effort against Iran). The second portion of his statement is considered by most to be geopolitically valid. But this isn't an opposite point of view and it's dramatically out of place. Thus, because Trump's ally-against-Iran-argument follows his words, "with that being said" - it indicates that the President feels that the first declaration of, "I'm not giving cover at all" - is false. Trump believes he's lying - and he is.
Notice how, through a good portion of this video, Trump clasps his right (dominant) hand with his left. This is a considerably atypical hand-arm configuration for President Trump. It's a particular MAP (Manipulator-Adaptor-Pacifier) that is a form of self-touching and self-comforting indicating his heightened anxiety.
Trump then defaults into one of his common configurations - of crossing his arms. More specifically, the vast majority of the time (and as exemplified here), when he crosses his arms, Trump does so with his hands clenched and hidden.
This nonverbal display is projecting his beta emotions of:
Additionally, notice how the President leans to his left, in-effect rocking himself in another attempt at self-soothing when he says, "... the previous administration ..." (0:15 - 0:16).
SUMMARY: President Trump's nonverbal and paralanguage behavior displayed in this video indicates that, with extremely high probability, the United States has acquired (on or before 17 October 2018), at least in part, audio and/or video of Jamal Khashoggi's torture and murder. Moreover, Donald Trump has heard and/or seen it, and, contrary to his statement, the President is covering for the Saudis.
On 2 October 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and he never walked out alive. He traveled there to obtain a document that would verify his divorce in order to marry his Turkish fiancée. The Turkish government has reported he was tortured and killed inside.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly stated that the burden is on Saudi Arabia to prove that Khashoggi had indeed left the consulate alive as the Saudi's have claimed.
Donald Trump has many financial ties with Saudi Arabia. It was also the first country he visited as President. On Monday 15 October 2018, Donald Trump made a statement about Jamal Khashoggi's murder, saying maybe it was perpetrated by "Rouge Killers". Some have interpreted this as the President sending up a trial balloon for the Saudi's spin.
The image above shows Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, in the Oval Office with President Trump during his visit on 14 March 2017. From a body language perspective, one thing jumps out. Red lights flashing, sirens blaring. Anyone who has paid even casual attention to Donald Trump since he announced his candidacy, would notice his constant seated crotch display - wherein his legs are spread very wide. This is often colloquially referred to as Manspreading.
No one out-manspreads Donald Trump (well.... almost no one).
In this image, note how Mohammed bin Salman's manspreading (the angle of his legs, particularly his thighs) is considerably more pronounced than Trump's. This is of profound importance - for this is in the Oval Office. They're meeting on Donald Trump's home turf. And yet Mohammed bin Salman is displaying much more dominance and a considerably higher alpha emotional tone than the President.
It's important to point out that not only is Mohammed bin Salman's manspreading more extreme, but the President's is considerably less alpha than his typical seated display. To nuance this nonverbal even further, notice the angle of each man's feet - Trump's are pointed more straight ahead (beta), while Mohammed bin Salman's feet are pointed considerably more outwardly (higher alpha).
Since he's been President, Trump has not met in the Oval Office with any other leader, foreign or domestic while defaulting to this acquiescing configuration - only Mohammed bin Salman. Although retrospectively it may not surprise many people, astute observers may remember that shortly after the 2016 Presidential election, when Donald Trump met with President Obama in the Oval Office, he also assumed this beta role.
SUMMARY: Donald Trump feels a significant beta emotional tone when the presence of Mohammed bin Salman. The fact that he adopts this subordinate mindset while on his home soil, in the Oval Office, cannot be over-emphasized.
On 8 October 2018, a ceremonial swearing-in of Brett Kavanaugh as an Associate Supreme Court Justice was held in the East Room of the White House. After the ceremony was completed, there was an interesting exchange which occurred between retired Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy and President Trump. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of that exchange.
Note that as Trump and Kennedy exit the East Room (beginning at about 30:01 in the above video), as they're walking down the hallway, Trump momentarily touches with his finger-splayed right hand in the upper center portion of Kennedy's back (30:27 - 30:28).
President Trump exhibits this particular behavior extremely often. It's not in any way a display of affection or friendship - nor is it because Kennedy needs any assistance in walking (he doesn't) - rather this is Trump displaying dominance.
As they turn to their left, during 30:29, Justice Kennedy suddenly stops - epitomizing the nonverbal idioms of 'stopping in his tracks' and he's 'taken aback' - and with both of his feet planted, his torso recoils, tilting backward, as he suddenly pulls away from President Trump.
Kennedy then leans slightly forward, particularly with his head and neck, in a moment of anger and assertiveness (30:30).
As Trump attempts to calm Kennedy (30:32) with his dominant, palm-down gesture, Kennedy looks down to his right. This is the quadrant to which most people look in momentary reflection during high-emotional times (such as sadness, guilt, shame, regret, what-am-I-going-to-do-now?, and similar feelings).
During 30:31, we see Kennedy's mouth momentarily agape - displaying persisting shock and disbelief. Notice too, that the justice's jaw is retracted - which, although not required, serves to amplify Kennedy's emotions.
Kennedy then reasserts himself with Trump (30:34 - 30:37) with a finger-point hand-chop. This is indicative of Kennedy's feelings of anger and self-righteousness - and it's one of the few times you'll see this body language displayed in this, or any president's personal space (intimate space).
Summary: While we don't know what President Trump said to retired Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, we can be absolutely sure it has profound ramifications. Kennedy was taken aback/shocked. The justice then grew self-righteous and angry. This nonverbal exchange is highly-consistent with Kennedy believing that a promise had been broken.
Yesterday, after the closest Senate vote in 137 years, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Ashley Kavanaugh's body language during her husband's swearing-in ceremony is worthy of scrutiny.
Note in the above image, as retired Justice Anthony Kennedy administers the Judicial Oath to Brett Kavanaugh, Ashley Kavanaugh is standing with her left leg crossed in front of her right leg. This nonverbal display indicates a lowered confidence level and a beta emotional tone. Along with projecting her low emotional comfort, it very much says that although social and political etiquette requires her presence, she very much wants to leave.
These submissive feelings are further amplified by the orientation of Ms. Kavanaugh's feet. For although we can't completely visualize them, we can easily discern that they're pointed inward (temporarily in-toed aka pigeon-toed) - projecting even lower confidence and the need for protection. This behavior is a fig-leaf analog.
One might be tempted to attribute Ashley Kavanaugh's leg and foot
positions to a chance moment in time - which would be erroneous
(particularly in this context). However, if we examine this second
image, when Chief Justice John Roberts is administering the
Constitutional Oath, although we can only see a portion of her legs,
she's clearly standing in the same configuration.
SUMMARY: Ashley Kavanaugh's body language during each
of her husband's Oaths yesterday indicates she was feeling lowered
confidence and diminished emotional comfort. Although protocol required
her presence, she very much did not want to be there.
There are many nonverbal signs indicating relative levels of confidence. During last week's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford exhibited contrasting examples of one such signal.
When a person raises their right hand to be sworn-in before testifying, if their fingers and/or thumb are spread apart - it signals low levels of confidence. Conversely, when a person's fingers are held close together during the swearing-in process, their confidence is high.
While a person who may be planning to be deceptive during a testimony, may have high confidence, such a scenario is atypical. It's much more likely that a person who is planning to be deceptive would be experiencing low confidence. This is true for both alpha and beta personalities - and regardless of one's social status.
SUMMARY: During last week's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Christine Blasey Ford's body language conveyed high levels of confidence, while Brett Kavanaugh projected low confidence levels.
While no single body language signal always indicates deception, the fact that Kavanaugh is an attorney and a judge - and, therefore, should be aware of such judicial nonverbal nuance, dramatically underscores his behavior and suggests his intention to deceive. Moreover, Dr. Ford's nonverbal display strongly suggests her intention toward truthfulness.
The following is my second analysis of a portion of Brett Kavanaugh's testimony during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 27 September 2018.
JOHN KENNEDY (beginning at 3:45:39): I’m — I’m sorry, judge, for what you and your family have been through. And I’m sorry - for what Dr. Ford and her family have been through. It could have been avoided [long pause] Do you believe in God?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: I do.
JOHN KENNEDY: I’m going to give you a last opportunity, right here, right in front of God and country. I want you to look me in the eye. Are Doctor Ford’s allegations true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: They are not as to me. I have not questioned that she might have been sexually assaulted at some point in her life by someone, someplace. But as to me, I’ve never done this - never done this to her or to anyone else. And I’ve talked to you about, ah, what I was doing that summer of 1982. But I’m telling ya I’ve never done this - to anyone, [stutter] in- including her.
JOHN KENNEDY: Are Ms. Ramirez’s allegations about you true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Those are not. Um, she — ah, no — no — none of the witnesses in the room support that. Ah, the — if that — that had happened, I would have been the talk of campus, ah, in our freshman dorm. The New York Times reported that as - recently as last week, ah, she was calling other classmates seeking to — well, I’m not going to characterize it — but calling classmates last week and - just seemed very - um - I’ll just stop there. But it’s not true. It’s not true.
JOHN KENNEDY: Are Ms. Swetnick’s allegations, made by Mr. Avenatti about you, true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Those are not true. Never met her, don’t know who she is. There’s this, a — letter released within two hours of that breaking yesterday, from I think sixty people who knew me in high school - men and women, who said it was, ah — their word’s 'nonsense' — totally, ya know, whole thing that — totally ridiculous.
JOHN KENNEDY: None of these allegations are true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Correct.
JOHN KENNEDY: No doubt in your mind?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Zero. I’m a hundred percent certain.
JOHN KENNEDY: Not even a scintilla?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Not a scintilla. A hundred percent certain, senator.
JOHN KENNEDY: You swear to God?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: I swear to God.
JOHN KENNEDY: [long pause] 'at's all I have, judge.
CHUCK GRASSLEY: Judge Kavanaugh, thank you very much. Hearing adjourned.
During 3:46:01, just after Kavanaugh says, "I do [believe in God]", Senator Kennedy displays a simultaneous Inward Lip Roll together with a Jaw Jut.
An inward lip roll (ILR) is a nonverbal manifestation of one's psyche trying to suppress strong emotions.
A jaw jut signals a surge of adrenaline.
Two seconds later, during 3:46:03 - 3:46:06, Senator Kennedy scratches his left eyebrow and just above his eyebrow.
This eyebrow scratch indicates, with high probability that Kennedy doubts Kavanaugh's truthfulness. We are witnessing Senator Kennedy in a moment of cognitive-emotional dissonance - for he absolutely
wants another conservative Republican justice on the Supreme Court, but
he doubts Kavanaugh's own belief in God.
Then Kennedy goes on to say, "I’m going to give you a last opportunity, right here, right in front of
God and country. I want you to look me in the eye. Are Dr. Ford’s
allegations true?"
Listen carefully to Kennedy's word choice and the tone in his voice. This is the precise verbiage and tone that so many parents use when giving their children one "last opportunity" to tell the truth - when they know their child is lying.
Kennedy knows Kavanaugh is lying.
Senator Kennedy's order of "I want you to look me in the eye" also shows Kennedy's (false) belief that if a person looks you in the eye (not breaking eye contact) and denies something, he must be telling you the truth. This is false.
Eye contact during deception either increases (crucially, often to a stare) - or it decreases, with the deceptive person looking away (usually down, and more often down and to their right). Thus, by telling Kavanaugh to look him in the eye, Kennedy removed some of the indecisiveness that a liar naturally feels during the moment of lie-telling (e.g., Where should I look? What should I do? What, exactly, should I say?). By giving him one less thing to do (skillful lying is a dramatic multitasking event), Kennedy made it easier for Kavanaugh to lie. Kennedy lightened Kavanaugh's mental-emotional load.
Therefore, when you're in a position of authority and you suspect someone could possibly be lying, never say, "Look me in the eye". Don't provide them a script or stage directions. Liars lie much more easily when you choreograph for them. Never throw them a life preserver - rather let them swim in the rough seas of their own making.
Just as Senator Kennedy says, "... in front of God ...", Kavanaugh displays a Forward Lip Purse (3:46:11, not to be confused with a lateral lip purse) as he turns his head, neck, and eyes away from Kennedy to get a drink. This gives him an opportunity to break eye contact (note, as referenced above, he's also looking down and to his right).
A forward lip purse indicates a deliberate act - a lack of full disclosure of information (e.g., a clandestine plan or withheld disagreement and/or facts).
This image was captured during 3:46:12 - 3:46:14, as Kavanaugh raises the glass of water to his mouth. While some people do project their tongue in the instant before a drink, this is atypical and the tongue usually does not extend this far out of the mouth. Even if this is a normal dynamic for Kavanaugh (he did display it at other times during this hearing, although there were times he didn't), it also allows for one to exhibit a typical Loose Tongue Jut (not to be confused with a tight tongue jut or a wide open tongue jut). A loose tongue jut conveys the thought emotions of: "I've been bad", "I've done a stupid thing", and/or "I got caught".
Of course, anxiety does dry out the throat and mouth, and frequent drinks of water is normal in such a context.
During 3:46:16, as Kennedy says, "... eye ..." ("... I want you to look me in the eye ..."), Kavanaugh displays an overt Macroexpression of disgust camouflaged within a sniff (in distinction to a Microexpression).
Judge Kavanaugh exhibited such disgust-sniffing many times throughout this hearing (please see the first cross-reference link below for a more detailed analysis of this specific nonverbal behavior).
Five seconds later, during 3:46:21, Kavanaugh displayed a Microexpression of contempt and/or disgust (almost none of the left side of his face is showing, so these two particular emotional displays can't be differentiated in this instance), just as Kennedy says the word, "... true ..." ("I want you to look me in the eye. Are Doctor Ford's allegations true?").
It's quite subtle. View the video first at full speed, then at 1/2 and 1/4 speeds - and once again at full speed. Lather, rinse, repeat. Additionally, review it in this same manner several times a week for the next few months. This practice will dramatically increase your ability to discern this as well as microexpressions associated with other emotions - in real time.
During Kennedy's questioning of Kavanaugh about allegations regarding Dr. Ford (3:46:24 - 3:46:47), although Kavanaugh denies wrongdoing, he nods his head up-and-down several times (in the affirmative) during his denials. Such verbal-nonverbal disparity is highly significant and strongly indicative of deception.
Notice too, that for this same split-second Kavanaugh displays an expression of Fear.
Not to be overlooked, is Judge Kavanaugh's stuttering during 3:46:46, as he says, "in- including" ("... But I’m telling ya I’ve never done this - to anyone, in- including her ...").
During 3:46:45 - 3:46:56, as Kavanaugh says, "... to anyone, [stutter] in- including her", continuing through as Senator Kennedy asks, "Are Ms. Ramirez’s allegations about you true?", and ongoing during a portion of his subsequent denial, "Those are not. Um, she ...", Brett Kavanaugh grips his right index finger with his left hand.
Index finger gripping MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is indicative of significant anxiety. Moreover, in this context, where sexual assault is being alleged, it's particularly symbolic and suggestive of guilt.
Kavanaugh displays a Hard Swallow (indicative of significantly elevated anxiety) during 3:46:48, just after he says, "I’ve never done this - to anyone, [stutter] in- including her."
A person who is telling the truth rarely swallows hard after declaring their innocence.
When asked, about Ms. Ramirez's allegations, Kavanaugh once more nods his head up-and-down while saying, "Those are not" (during 3:46:53 - 3:46:55). Although Brett Kavanaugh's spoken words are saying, "No", nonverbally he's saying, "Yes".
Whenever there's disparity between the verbal language and the body language - it's the body language which is telling the truth.
During 3:47:08, just after he says, "... our freshman dorm ...", Kavanaugh displays another classic microexpression of contempt (please watch this at regular speed and in slow motion).
Brett Kavanaugh displays another Hard Swallow during 3:47:32, as Senator Kennedy speaks the second syllable of Ms. Swetnick's name ("Are Ms. Swetnick’s allegations, made by Mr. Avenatti about you, true?").
The allegations regarding Ms. Swetnick evoke a greater level of anxiety in Judge Kavanaugh (compared with those he feels toward Dr. Ford or Ms. Ramirez).
Less than a second after his hard swallow, Kavanaugh displays yet another Forward Lip Purse (still during 3:47:32).
Again, a forward lip purse indicates a deliberate act - a lack of full disclosure of information
(e.g., a clandestine plan or withheld disagreement and/or facts).
A second later, during 47:33, as Kennedy says, "... allegations ...", Kavanaugh displays another overt Disgust-Sniff (a camouflaged Macroexpression).
Kavanaugh displays another Forward Lip Purse (47:35) as Senator Kennedy says, "made by".
Notice also, how Brett Kavanaugh omits the first person singular pronoun "I" when he says, "Never met her, don’t know who she is", when referring to Ms. Swetnick. From a statement analysis perspective, this verbal omission indicates significantly less ownership and belief in his own declarations. Such 'I dropping' is correlative with deception.
SUMMARY:
Judge Kavanaugh's nonverbal behavior indicates he's lying as well as deliberately withholding information (lies of omission). He believes he is guilty
of sexual assault. Kavanaugh's anxiety is particularly elevated toward Ms. Swetnick.
Senator Kennedy has significant cognitive-emotional dissonance, for he also believes Brett Kavanaugh is guilty of sexual assault, yet he wants a conservative justice on the Supreme Court. Moreover, Kennedy questions Brett Kavanaugh's belief in God.
