Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4763: Donald Trump's bizarre and predatory behavior (that you probably didn't notice) during the debate handshake with VP Kamala Harris – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

There were multitudes of body language displays – as well as verbal and paralanguage behaviors – exhibited during their first handshake. One behavior in particular exhibited by Donald Trump during his handshake with Vice President Harris that was especially bizarre – did you see it?

The image shown above shows a wide-angle view of the behavior in question. 

... and here's a close-up of that same moment:

Donald Trump's right index finger is extended up onto the inside (volar aspect) of Vice President Harris' wrist. It's not gripping her hand as is the universal custom around the world.

When, upon meeting someone, we extend our hand, it's a form of implied consent (i.e., I'm extending my hand in an invitation of greeting in hopes [and expectation] that you extend yours, so that we may shake hands).

And although, in certain cultures and contexts there are exceptions, in most all countries and in most all contexts throughout the world, the implied consent by a handshake does not give further consent to other bodily touching.

Donald Trump extended his finger up Vice President Kamala Harris' wrist (between the cuff of her shirt and the cuff of her jacket) as a deliberate, invasive, predatory, and sexual innuendo – in an attempt to intimidate and unnerve the Vice President.

Regardless of the other oddities of this handshake (see below), this particular invasive touching is not a component of a normal or acceptable handshake by any stretch of the imagination.

Had the Vice President been wearing a shorter sleeve – or had she not been wearing a non-flexible bracelet, it would have allowed Trump to be even more invasive by touching further down the skin of her wrist.   

The wrist is a particularly sensitive area and a body part that should not be touched without consent.

The index finger on the dominant hand (Trump's right hand and, of course, the shaking hand by convention) is the most powerful digit on either hand. 

Moreover, the significance of an extended index finger as a phallic symbol in this context is entirely deliberate. And although it's certainly not sexual assault, it's absolutely intended to intimidate and make Vice President Harris feel violated. It is predatory.

If ever you've been on the receiving end of this variety of invasive handshake, you'll probably remember feeling creeped-out.

So while consent to touching the other person's hand in the context of a handshake is, of course, implied and expected – touching them in other places is not. In some countries and situations, there are exceptions, but this was certainly not one of them.

By Trump breaking this norm in this way gives him plausible deniability for violating personal space, trying to intimidate, and predatory behavior.

Now zoom-out and look at the relative positions of Trump's and Harris' hands and arms relative to their torsos. Trump virtually always pulls women's hands both upward and close to his upper torso/lower chest during handshakes:

Men who consistently shake other men's hands with this in-pulling and/or up-pulling are narcissistic and manipulative...

... And men who shake women's hands using this dynamic are not only narcissistic and manipulative – they're also misogynistic, objectifying the women, and have a predilection of violence toward women.

As has been widely pointed out, Trump did not anticipate a handshake from the Vice President, caught off-guard he hesitated, slowing his approach onto the stage, and was trying to decide whether to shake hands in front of or behind his lectern.
 

 

His hesitation (possibly momentary disorientation) was classic low confidence behavior – which further primed Trump toward a state of emotional discomfort.

There are some who might say that by walking slowly, Trump forced Harris into a subordinate position – necessitating her to approach him. This is incorrect.

In this context, Harris' pace, energy, and early start on stage exemplified Harris' energy and initiative – in a word: Presidential.

Vice President Harris also spoke first – introducing herself with a confident and assertive tone as well as with proper volume saying, "Kamala Harris. Let's have a good debate", while Trump mumbled, "Nice to see ya [sic]. Have fun." Harris answered back, "Thank you."

While there are exceptions, in the vast majority of situations, and certainly in a debate scenario, if you want to project authority and confidence (i.e., be presidential), initiate the handshake – and introduce yourself. Donald Trump did neither of these.

Trump physically hesitated, mumbled, and took refuge behind his lectern.

And you've probably heard – until the debate, these two had never met (Note: because Donald Trump chose not to attend the 2020 Presidential Inauguration).

SUMMARY:  Donald Trump, directed his index finger down-the-wrist of VP Kamala Harris. This was a sexual innuendo. This was predatory. It was an invasive and deliberate attempt to unnerve and intimidate the Vice President. It didn't work.

Trump's standard handshake MO of pulling a woman's hand-arm both disproportionately toward him as well as upward indicates his:

• Narcissism
• Manipulative personality

• Misogyny
• Objectification of women
• Predilection of violence toward women

Trump was caught off-guard by Harris' approach, strength, assertiveness, and authority. She was presidential and he was not. He hesitated, walked slowly, retreated behind his lectern, mumbled, spoke with low-volume, and never introduced himself. ...

Inquiries re consulting, teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

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Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4762: Donald Trump asked if he would denounce Bomb Threats in Springfield, Ohio – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

On Saturday 14 Sept. 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Donald Trump was asked: "Do you denounce the bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio?"

What follows is a body language, paralanguage and statement analysis of his response to that question.

Donald Trump: "Ahhh, I don't know what happened, ahhh, with thee [sic] ahhh, bomb threats. I know that it's been taken over by, ahhh, allegal [sic] migrants, and it's a terrible thing that happens."

Trump continues: "... Springfield was this beautiful town – and now they're goin' through hell. It's a [pause] sad thing."

One nonverbal behavior that immediately jumps out is Donald Trump opening his eyelids wide (particularly his left eye as his right eyelid is more 'droopy' [mild-moderate ptosis, most likely age-related]).

It's crucial to note this evanescent eyelid opening occurs *after* the words "bomb threats" are spoken – but *before* the words "Springfield, Ohio". This sudden eyelid opening signifies an adrenaline surge (and, specifically, in this context indicating fear).

Trump immediately blinks (anxiety), then closing his eyes, he rapidly rotates his head to his right (moving away from the journalist) as he says, "Ahhh, I don't know ...".

Note that Trump rotates his head even further to his right [and even more so away from the reporter], in the second portion of this sentence, "...what happened, ahhh, with thee [sic] ahhh, bomb threats..."

Trump *really* doesn't want to look at the reporter (his eyelid closure, blinking, turning away) – are all variations of diminished eye contact – prevalent behaviors during deception and whilst trying to maintain clandestine acts.

As Trump says, "I know that it's been taken over by, ahhh, allegal [sic] migrants" – he rotates his head, so that he's again facing the reporter. During this time, his eyes progressively open back up again, while still blinking with increased frequency over his baseline (anxiety).  

 

 
Trump's mispronunciation of "illegal" as "allegal" is also notable. As he speaks this word, Trump displays a microexpression of disgust. (Trump's fourth "ahhh" in this brief statement is spoken immediately prior to him saying, "allegal").

It's crucial to point out that the expression of disgust was the most common emotion displayed by Nazi staff at concentration camps during WWII (followed closely in frequency by their expressions' of contempt).

Notice too, how Trump stretches-out his pronunciation word "the" (99.9+% of the time it's pronounced with a short e, unstressed, 'schwa' sound) into a "thee" pronunciation (stressed vowel, long e).

Such syllable-stretching is often correlated with time-stalling behaviors – as well as during deception.

Note also Trump's multiple "ahhhs" (four times in just 5.4 seconds) – another indication of anxiety, in addition to a common method of stalling for time while attempting to formulate an answer. 

Trump's "thee" is in fact, sandwiched in between two "ahhhs" ("...ahhh, with thee [sic] ahhh ...") – which, in this context, is amplifying his other signals of deception.

Note Trump's very first reflex is to deny any knowledge of bomb threats – rather than denouncing these acts – or expressing sadness, frustration, or anger at those who perpetrated these felonious acts. In fact he still hasn't denounced these bomb threats.

The journalist was not accusing Trump of the bomb threats, but given Trump's response, we should think so – because his first impulse is to deny having any knowledge of the event (which absolutely no one believes). 

Denying knowledge of an event of common knowledge has an extremely high correlation with deception.

Notice too, as Trump says, "...taken over by...", he elevates up on his toes (Note Trump's head elevates along with his shoulders). This is one manifestation of an adrenaline surge. Why the surge in Trump's adrenaline?

It's a common tactic to deny knowledge of an event whilst lying, however Donald Trump claims naïvaté much more frequently when the question is suggestive of or overlaps with an element of his racism.

SUMMARY: Donald Trump's behavior during this brief exchange is more than racist political rhetoric or routine political deception...

Yes, Trump lied (of course he knew about the bomb threats in Springfield, OH) – but for someone so very accustomed to lying (esp. re crucial issues), his heightened fear and adrenaline surges during his answer are red-lights-flashing-sirens-blaring-level-suspicious...

... Trump's behavior strongly suggests he had foreknowledge of the bomb threats in Springfield Ohio – or some other similar event regarding another bombing/bomb threat.

Inquiries regarding consulting, teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

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