On Thursday, after fielding questions regarding the MOAB bomb exploded earlier in the day in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump was asked about its ramifications for North Korea.
JOURNALIST (beginning at 0:55): Mr. President, does it send a message to North Korea?
DONALD TRUMP: I don't know if this sends a message - ahhh - It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea's a problem. The problem will be taken care of..."
Immediately at the very end of the journalist's question, the corners of Trump's mouth pull outward (laterally) and down as he inhales with a highly characteristic audible hissing. This is highly indicative of the trepidation/fear - and the inevitability of a future/anticipated course of events.
Before answering, the President turns his head - looking down and to his right - while also turning his eyes down and to his right. This is Highly indicative of a deeper emotional response.
As he says, "I don't know if this sends a message", Trump shakes his from head side-to-side. This is immediately followed by a bilateral shoulder shrug (Indicating: I don't know, I don't care, What does it matter?, or What choice do I have?), while the President says, "ahhh". This nonverbal display is very much in agreement with his next statement: "It doesn't make any difference if it does or not."
As Trump says, "...The problem will be taken care of...", he displays a microexpression of contempt (on his right).
Flashback .... Last week, during his joint press conference with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Trump very much nonverbally 'telegraphed his punch' one day prior to his retaliation for Syria's chemical weapons attack.
See: Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria - What Will Trump Do?
In that same press conference, Trump also commented on North Korea.
Beginning at 13:06 in this second video (immediately above), the President answers, "As you know, I'll be meeting with the President of China very soon, in Florida, and that's another responsibility we have - and that's called the country of North Korea. We have a big problem. We have somebody that is not doing the right thing. And that's going to be my responsibility. But I'll tell you, that responsibility could have been made a lot easier if it was handled years ago."
There is a multitude of nonverbal signals the President says while speaking during this paragraph, however, one is a particularly powerful harbinger. During 13:23 as he says, "And that's going to be ...", President Trump displays a head torque (please watch the video as the still image does not capture the dynamic nature of this display).
A head torque is indicative of a high-alpha emotional tone. Its components are a characteristic rotating/twisting of the head-neck together with a forward thrusting of the head. A head torque signals a particularly adamant and determined emotional mindset. This is a nonverbal signal which is so deeply rooted that many animals will exhibit this same behavior. Anyone who has spent time around horses will recognize the head torque.
Summary:
Donald Trump has put the proverbial ball in China's court in order to 'muscle-down' North Korea's nuclear weapons. If this 'Chinese Muscle' strategy is not successful, and if Kim Jong-un and the North Korean government do not stand-down (e.g., Refrain from testing another nuclear device, disassemble their nuclear weapons - and allow an outside inspection team to verify and monitor the process, etc.), based on Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior, there's a high likelihood President Trump will order a preemptive strike.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3905: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, and Deep Joy
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3875: Children Interrupt Dad During BBC News interview
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3841: Tom Brady's and Roger Goodell's Handshake after Super Bowl LI
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3769: Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3654: Hope Solo Calls Swedish Team "Cowards" after US Loss in Rio
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