Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4765: Mark Carney to Donald Trump in the Oval Office – Canada is not for sale and never will be – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

On Tuesday 6 May 2025, Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. What follows is a partial body language analysis of one crucial portion of their exchange.

This segment begins with PM Carney saying, "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. We're sitting in one right now. You know Buckingham Palace, you visited as well..."

Immediately after Carney references Buckingham Palace, Trump displays a classic contempt-disgust amalgam expression (0:10 mark). Trump was directing his contempt either at members of the UK government and/or the Royal family (upon hearing "Buckingham Palace") – or at PM Carney.

 

A few seconds later, the Prime Minister continues, ".. Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign – last several months, it's not for sale, won't be for sale – *ever* [Carney's emphasis] ..."

About two seconds after PM Carney says, "ever" (0:21-0:22), Trump displays:

• A bilateral eyebrow flash (brief elevation of both eyebrows)
• A left head tilt
• An asymmetrical pseudo-smile 

This cluster of simultaneous/near-simultaneous body language displays indicates the sarcastic thought-emotion-intent of:

• "That's what YOU think!"
• "Boy are YOU in for a surprise!"
• "Just wait 'til you see what happens!"

While a sincere smile can begin asymmetrically – and then progress to a symmetrical configuration as it becomes fully expressed – smiles that remain one-sided (esp. as we see here with his left mouth corner raised while his right mouth corner vectored downward) are feigned/insincere.

Trump then nods his head, just once (consciously), up-and-down, agreeing with what Carney says next, "The opportunity is in the partnership ...". (0:23)

Note that this occurs as Trump's one-sided false-smile fades.

Trump then makes another crucial expression. About 1-2 seconds before the end of this video (0:26-0:27), Trump exhibits what is known as a 'Forward Lip Purse'.

A forward lip purse is a signal of undisclosed disagreement and/or one of clandestine plans.

Take care not to confuse a forward lip purse with a lateral lip purse, as these expressions convey completely different thought-emotions.

SUMMARY: The body language displays exhibited by Trump in this exchange indicate that, with extremely high likelihood, Trump has surreptitious plans regarding his intentions to make Canada part of the United States.

Moreover, Trump also has significant contempt and disgust directed toward the UK leadership, the members of the Royal family, and/or Prime Minister Carney.

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

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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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Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4757: Donald Trump Handshake with Benjamin Netanyahu: "When I think about you, I touch myself" (apologies to Divinyls) – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

Donald Trump met with War Criminal and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago today. Along with violating the Logan Act, Trump exhibited some bizarre body language behavior.

 

 
At first glance, you may think this Trump-Netanyahu handshake is an example of a "double-hander" – such as the one exemplified here, from Trump and Kim Jong Un's meeting on 30 June 2019. But you'd be very wrong...

Look carefully at Trump's left hand – his left hand is on top of his *own* right hand – and Netanyhu's hand is on the bottom.

While this is another example of Trump's attempt at dominance –  it's also extremely over-compensatory that betrays his profound narcissism. But there's other thought-emotions going on here ...

Trump's right hand is already on top of Netanyahu's – so Trump was already displaying dominance. The meeting is taking place in the US (Trump's country, not Netanyahu's) – and at Mar-a-Lago (Trump's "home") – Yet Trump still feels the need for additional dominance.

But why is Trump touching *his own* hand in this moment? This dynamic is profoundly Narcissistic. Trump is showing us that he would rather touch himself (during a handshake!) than touch Netanyahu (which also shows his distrust of Netanyahu). 

Additionally and perhaps most importantly, covering one's right hand (Trump's dominant hand) with the left hand is indicative of his surreptitious behavior.
 

This handshake variation is quite odd – even for Trump. It's also quite rare. So rare that you'll probably never see it again (except perhaps from Trump again).

SUMMARY: Donald Trump's bizarre self-touching handshake with Benjamin Netanyahu today indicates:

•  Trump's attempt at Dominance 
•  Trump's extreme Narcissism

•  Trump's distrust of Netanyahu

•  Clandestine behavior of Trump's

11 of 11/  Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com  

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Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4755: Nikki Haley's endorsement of Donald Trump – and his reaction – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

No doubt you've heard – last night, at the Republican National Convention, Nikki Haley endorsed Donald Trump. What follows is a Body Language Analysis of a crucial portion of her speech.

In the video above, we see Nikki Haley saying, "I'll start by making one thing perfectly clear – Donald Trump has my strong endorsement period."

Notice as she says, "...my strong endorsement period" (and for about a second thereafter), Haley is shaking her head side-to-side – the (nearly world-wide) signal for 'No' or 'I disagree'.

 

 
Haley's nonverbal display is directly contradictory to her words.

Whenever the body language disagrees with the verbal language – it's the body language that tells the true thought-emotions.

 
Now note Trump's reaction. He immediately displays a contempt expression.

The contempt is on the left side (his left) of his face. His eyelids, partially closed – while not a required component of a contempt display, this partial lid closure in this context is a contempt amplifier.

Followed shortly thereafter by a Tight Tongue Jut (signaling disgust, disdain, repulsion).

 
He then looks down and to his right, the quadrant of gaze toward which people most often look during moments of deception.

SUMMARY:  Nikki Haley lied when she said "I'll start by making one thing perfectly clear – Donald Trump has my strong endorsement period".

 

Moreover, Donald Trump feels contempt, disdain, disgust, and repulsion toward Haley. In addition, Trump believes Haley lied. 

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

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Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4752: Jim Jordan responds to Jamie Raskin re Jordan's ignoring his Subpoena from the January 6th Committee – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

Last week, the Republican House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in Contempt of Congress for not releasing the audio of President Biden's interview with Robert Hur. They have been in possession of the official transcript of this interview for months.

216 Republicans voted for the Contempt of Congress charges against Merrick Garland: 206 Democrats and 1 Republican (Dave Joyce, OH-14) voted against contempt (One Republican and 7 Democrats did not vote).

What follows is a body language analysis of the above, crucial portion of Jim Jordan's response to Jamie Raskin today on the House Floor where Raskin called Jordan out for his ignoring of the January 6th Committee's subpoena. 

Anyone can fact check Jim Jordan here. Jordan is telling a blatant and verifiable lie. There is ample and well-documented history on this account.

Jordan refused to testify before the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack and he was referred to the DOJ for criminal investigation. 

But if this were a different person – or Jim Jordan's history was an unknown quantity, what clues does his body language reveal regarding his true thoughts and feelings during this response?

Immediately prior, Rep. Jamie Raskin had called out Jim Jordan and others – for holding Merrick Garland in Contempt of Congress, while pointing out to Jordan, et. al., had themselves refused to testify before the January 6th Committee when they had been subpoenaed.

Note Jordan's initial nonverbal response as he says, "Mr. Speaker, first of all, I never said, 'I wouldn't testify in front of the January 6th Committee'...", he is pointing at Rep. Jamie Raskin with his left index finger. 

 

 
Jim Jordan is right-handed. If he truly believed his own words in this moment, he would be pointing with his dominant hand, not his non-dominant hand.

He does not believe his own words. Jordan is lying.

Notice also, the diminutive configuration his right hand simultaneously holds. His dominant index finger is retracted (low confidence, emotional discomfort, deception) whilst his left (non-dominant) index finger feigns self-righteousness.

 

Moreover, Jordan does not hold his left hand still while pointing at Rep. Raskin, rather he simultaneously shakes it. This combination of body language is known as a 'finger-point-hand-chop'.

 
In addition, did you also notice that Jordan's eyelids are closed as he's left (non-dominant) index finger pointing? Extended duration blinking is a form of diminished eye contact (deception, distancing, shame). 

 

Whenever a person is being confronted with a lie or wrongdoing, and while pushing-back against their accuser/the accusation, if they're using a finger-point-hand-chop, there's an extremely high likelihood that they're lying.

Notice too Jordan's subsequent words, "... I just wanna know what the parameters of that, that testimony were gonna be ..." – Jordan uses both the past (were gonna be) and present tense (just wanna know) in the same sentence. Jordan also stutters (that, that). 

The mixing of tenses – as well as stuttering in a non-stutterer, while interpreted in isolation do not indicate deception, they're both reliable indicators of anxiety.

A moment later, Jim Jordan does recruit his dominant (right) hand, momentarily pointing with both index fingers – but now he's displaying a two-handed finger-point-hand-chop.

Jordan then reverts back to a primarily left (non-dominant) finger point (again, with another finger-point-hand-chop), while his right (dominant) hand, although still pointing, retreats to a much lower, subordinate position. 

 
Although Jordan does eventually recruit his right hand into his gesturing, his (non-dominant) left hand/left index finger was his initial hand/finger of preference, and it continued to play the dominant role in his nonverbal behavior.

SUMMARY: Jim Jordan's displays classic body language of deception in response to his being called out as guilty of committing Contempt of Congress while he accuses Merrick Garland of the same.

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

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Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4751: Donald Trump's and Mitch McConnell's Handshake in DC – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

On Thursday 13 June 2024, Donald Trump met with Republican members of the House and Senate in Washington D.C. It was the first time Trump had returned to the nation's capital since leaving office almost 3.5 years ago (Photo Credit: Doug Mills).
 

The meeting took place at the Capitol Hill Club – an exclusive Republican social coterie – just 0.12 miles from the grounds of the US Capitol, the site of the January 6th 2021 Insurrection. 

The Capitol Hill Club occupies the same building which once was the home of former Senator John McCain's parents.

Intriguingly, the Capitol Hill Club is also the location where the second DC pipe bomb was planted on the evening of January 5th, 2021 (not at the RNC headquarters, an adjacent building, immediately to its south [as is nearly always falsely reported]).

The above image captures the first meeting of Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell since Trump left office.

Note the angle at which each man 'leans into' the handshake. Trump's torso is tilted at about 30º-35º and McConnell is also leaning-in, but less so, about 20º.

This behavior is akin to leaning-in during a hug, wherein the further apart the two *lower* bodies are, the greater the lean-in required – indicative of less (or absent) affection. 

In the context of a handshake, the greater the leaning-in, the less the respect and/or (what we see demonstrated here) – the less trust (or no trust) held for the other person.

Now you may say, "Well what about the chair and the corner of the table, between them? Those obstacles prevent the two men from leaning-in."

While if you isolate this moment solely to physics and physical objects, you would be correct – but with respect to psychology, you'd be dead wrong. 

Human nature doesn't exist in isolation. 

If you have affection for, respect, or trust another person, your psyche wants to 'close the distance' to them. There's a subconscious drive to be physically closer. 

Ergo, without thinking about it, you'll step around objects (or move them) to hug or handshake. You won't lean-in any more than a small amount. 

If you trust and/or respect the other person (and absolutely if you have affection for them) your body will be straighter and your feet would be closer during a handshake than what is exemplified here. 

So with rare exceptions, you should never reach across a table (or any obstacle) to shake someone's hand. 

Take the time to walk around any obstacles prior to shaking someone's hand. This simple and conscious act shows more respect for the other person – and will increase their respect for you.

You may say, "Well, what if Trump doesn't like McConnell (or vice versa)?" They still should walk around obstacles for a handshake, for doing so also demonstrates greater command of the situation (less pretense and more substance).

Moreover, depending on the other simultaneous (nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage) behaviors, the reach-across-the table handshake can also convey that they who are reaching – are also very often intimidated. 

Another mistake Trump almost always commits during a handshake is that he offers the other person his hand in a palm-up configuration. This is almost never advised.

Exception: i.e., if your boss or some other obvious organizational superior *offers you their palm-down hand first*, it's wise to reciprocate with your hand in a palm-up manner.

But if you extend your hand first (good advice), always keep your palm perpendicular to the ground (even if they're your boss or head-of-state).

Trump offers his palm-up first for one of two reasons:

A. So that he can give the other person the 'hand sandwich' (see below)

B. He may have an old rotator cuff injury (or similar) which makes a palm-down or palm-perpendicular handshake physically difficult.

A 'hand sandwich', sometimes called 'the double-hander', (what Trump is doing in this example) is a dominance display. Trump is trying to convey to McConnell that he controls the Senator – that he has more power.

 

 

At other times, when Trump isn't using the double-hander (or one of its variations), he's usually using another dominant/controlling handshake – although he doesn't always succeed. Thank you, PM Trudeau.

(Note: There are numerous other body language components to proper handshakes – and many other handshake scenarios. This post is not intended to be comprehensive.)

SUMMARY: It's no secret that Donald Trump 'does not like' Mitch McConnell – and McConnell feels the same about Trump (they may even hate each other). ...

... and their specific behavior in the above image shows us an amalgam – that Trump and McConnell:

 

• Don't respect each other
• Don't trust each other

• Are intimidated by each other

• They need each other

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

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