Body Language Analysis No. 4358: Donald Trump, Pseudo-Christianity, and the Not-So-Subliminal Cross - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

I've analyzed Donald Trump's behavior thousands of times (over 400 of these analyses are published) - but this one stands out.

On Friday, on his way out to Marine One, Trump held a press gaggle on the South Lawn of the White House. He spoke about several subjects - one of which was Matt Whitaker.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of two key moments of Trump's exchange.

DONALD TRUMP (continuing at the 3:27 mark in the above video): I didn't speak to Matt Whitaker about it. I don't know Matt Whitaker. Matt Whitaker has a great reputation and that's what I wanted.

I also wanted to do something which, frankly, I could have brought somebody very easily from the outside. I didn't wanna do that.

When Sessions left, what I did - very simply is - take a man who worked for Session [sic].

During 3:46 - 3:47, as he says, "... is take a man who worked for Session [sic]", Trump very clearly gestures with his right hand - and, as if he were Christian clergy giving a sermon - traces the sign of the Cross.

Holding his right hand in a vertical plane, he first gestures upward.

Maintaining this vertical planar configuration, he then moves his right hand downward.

His hand then comes back up - very deliberately - returning to the center of the cross.

Next, he then gestures to his left.

And then finishing this religious nonverbal metaphor by moving his right hand to his right. 

Please watch the video, as these still images do not capture the dynamics of this behavior.

It's important to note that some Christian denominations traditionally gesture first to their left and then to their right, while others finish their crossing gesture in a right-to-left fashion.

Make no mistake, the President deliberately displayed this very clear sequence of gestures. Trump has never exhibited this unmistakable and classic Christian behavior in public since he announced his candidacy on 16 June 2015.

Now, go back a few seconds (3:42). The President proceeds through another unusual nonverbal cluster. As he says, "When Sessions left ...", he forms a fist with his left hand - holds it at mid-face level - and then moves it down as if he his pulling on a lever.

The President then forms a fist with his right hand (this image captured from a different camera). This double fist pose is a stance of aggression."

He then brought his fists closer together...

Then disengaging his fists, pulling them apart as his hands opened up.

This double-fisted sequence demonstrates Trump's clear dislike toward former Attorney General Sessions and the President's aggressive mindset toward stopping Robert Mueller's investigation.

SUMMARY: President Trump used a traditional Christian crossing gesture on the South Lawn of The White House Friday while voicing his praise for Matt Whitaker as acting Attorney General. This maneuver was a deliberate and conscious act. In this context, such crossing is pseudo-religious - and indeed, it's cult-engendering.

Trump either perceives himself as a religious figure - or he wants his followers to view himself as god-like (or both).

Moreover, Trump's double-fisted dynamic indicates both his dislike of Jeff Sessions and his aggressive tactics toward Robert Mueller.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4357: Donald Trump's response, "What a stupid question"

Body Language Analysis No. 4355: Comparing Donald Trump and the Tree of Life Synagogue to Ronald Reagan and the Challenger Disaster

Body Language Analysis No. 4353: The Murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Trump's Defense of Saudi Arabia

Body Language Analysis No. 4351: Donald Trump Stops Anthony Kennedy in His Tracks

Body Language Analysis No. 4339: Pre-Confession Interview of Murderer, Chris Watts

Body Language Analysis No. 4336: Alita: Battle Angel, Large Eyes, and Sexual Attraction

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4106 (Reposting with Addendum): Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children & Melania Trump's Visit to Children's Shelter/Detention Center

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3819: Turkey's Parliament, Presidential Powers and Constitutional Amendments - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

On Wednesday 11 January 2017, a brawl broke out on the floor of the Turkish Parliament in the midst of a debate on constitutional amendments regarding increasing presidential powers.

When we look at the body language present in this image, one characteristic which should jump out at you is the prevalence of "Jaw Jutting". A jaw jut virtually always occurs just prior to - as well as during acts of violence. Moreover notice also the degree of "hand tension" (e.g., throwing fists, high-energy grabbing, jabbing, etc.). This is also a very good example of a second nonverbal axiom: Whenever there is jaw jutting present, there is a very high likelihood of hand tension.

In the moments just before violence occurs, we will see jaw jutting and simultaneous fists (and other examples of hand tension). When you such body language signals - take immediate precautions to protect yourself and/or put physical distance between you and the person displaying these nonverbal displays.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2818: Representative John Lewis: "Donald Trump Won’t Be A ‘Legitimate President' "

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3803: A Common Gesture of Donald Trump's - Variation on Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3736: Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly re: Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3633: David Duke's Duplicity & The US Senate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3564: Kanye West, Ellen and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3505: Barack Obama is Interrupted by Raúl Castro & Aide at Press Conference


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3807: Sarah Paulson's Fear of Flying - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

A rarely discussed body language signal is seen during Sarah Paulson's recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

During the 1:02 - 1:03, as Ms. Paulson wants to speak, she curls up her fingers in what many would call a fist-like gesture. This is a body language signal of a momentary pent-up desire to speak - fighting against the urge to interrupt.

Once the speaking begins - the fingers unfurl ...

... and the hand then (typically) begins a palm-down and forward gesture ("Illustrator") as is seen here.

Too often people will misinterpret (or not even see) nonverbal cues. Next time, don't miss this one - for it is saying, "It's my turn to speak".


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3806: The Bachelor Nick Viall Awkwardly Reunites with Ex-Girlfriends Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe on Jimmy Kimmel

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3804: Barack Obama, Shinzō Abe and The Pearl Harbor Memorial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3802: Amanda Nunes, Ronda Rousey and UFC 207

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3794: Racist Rant at Jefferson Mall in Louisville

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3722: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - One Positive Thing They Respect about Each Other

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3532: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and The Graham Norton Show


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3134: Ted Cruz to Announce his Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Why He Will Never Win - Body Language (PHOTOS)

A Reminder: This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc. are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others' body language as well as the projection of one's own nonverbal skills in many different contexts - not to advance any political or religious agenda.

Ted Cruz has leaked the fact that tomorrow he will formally announce his 2016 candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. Politics aside, the freshman Senator from Texas has absolutely no chance to win either the Republican nomination - let alone the White House. One non-political reason is - while he's very good at stirring up emotions, Cruz lacks even a fundamental understanding of building likability and rapport - and the psychology behind it. Without such knowledge and ability, no candidate will ever capture a significant fraction of that middle 1/3 of the electorate.

One example of this interpersonal blind spot is demonstrated above. This image was captured last month at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference - of course a very friendly audience for a republican candidate - yet even here faux pas abound.

Note Cruz is pointing his index finger towards the audience. Forefinger (index finger) pointing is universally offensive across all cultures on the planet - so even if a republican is in front of a conservative group - THIS BODY LANGUAGE WILL ALIENATE. Moreover his finger pointing is the only thing preventing his hand from forming a full, closed-fist. Such an 80% fist is another high-tension illustrator which destroys rapport. In addition Cruz's arm/fist is raised - further drawing tension. And while perhaps solidifying his hardline followers, this gesture pushes away the vast majority of any possible "maybe voters".

Another profoundly important nonverbal principle demonstrated in this image is the correlation between the Senator's face and his hands. When the emotions are sincere - hand tension will tend to strongly mirror facial tension - and vice versa. When the emotions are being feigned - the hands and facial stress levels will very often be quite disparate. Thus we can conclude absolutely that Senator Cruz's anger and disgust displayed on his face in this moment are indeed very sincere - for this anger is reflected by the configuration of his left arm, fist and forefinger - yet these will not build rapport or get him the swing voters he or any candidate needs.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3133: The Red Flag of Robert Durst's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2963: Barack Obama at the United Nations General Assembly regarding ISIS/ISIL, 24 September 2014 - Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2596: What Motivates Ted Cruz's Regarding Anti-Obamacare, Body Language Tells on Jay Leno

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2770: Oscar Pistorius and Contrasting Confidence Levels - Body Language (PHOTOS)

The image above of Oscar Pistorius (L) and one member of his legal team he's speaking with was taken on court on Friday 28 March 2014. The Blade Runner's trial in Reeva Steenkamp's death (accidental vs. premeditated murder) has been delayed for ten days due to the sudden illness of a one of the judge's two assessors.

Note the attorney has his fingers and thumb splayed with the tips touching the top of the barrier while his palm is elevated. This body language is significant for an alpha and assertive emotional tone - ergo its name, "The Dominant Spider".

In contrast, the fist-like configuration (with thumb extended) which Mr. Pistorius is displaying is significant for a beta and a lower-confidence mindset.

Nonverbal signals should never be interpreted in isolation. Rather they must always be evaluated in the cluster-context of other body language simultaneously (or nearly so) being manifested. These contrasting hand signals are no exception to this principal and are highly congruent with the other nonverbals present here.

The body language of this single moment does not imply Mr. Pistorius's guilt or innocence.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2769: Smiling Out of Context in a Mass Shooter - T.J. Lane's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2767: Barack Obama Meets Pope Francis - The Body Language "Being Beta"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2672: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un and the Finger-Point Hand-Chop, Body Language from North Korea

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2644: Barry Hinson's Rant - (Southern Illinois Basketball Coach) Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2635: Raúl Castro and Barack Obama Shake Hands at Nelson Mandela's Memorial - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2744: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2750: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and Lies - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424:  Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien  Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and  Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1933: Iran's Aggression and their Military's Salute - A Visual Metaphor of WWII & Nazi Fear

Iran's Military salute is very similar to the Nazi salute initiated in pre-WWII Germany. I thought of including a historical image for comparison - but that is not necessary. Immediately when we look at this recent picture, those of the 1930's and early 40's evoke other dark images, empathy (for their victims) and pain. The act of not including such a photo illustrates just how strongly the Nazi World-view is cemented fearfully in our mind and minds-eye, even though most alive now were not alive then. The vast majority of people experience these painful emotions in historical context, or perhaps by stories told or read, etc.

From a pure body language point of view, the Iranian salute is even more caustic than the Nazi's. The closed-fisted message is more dominant and violence provoking than Hitler's open, palm-down configuration. Of course, neither is welcomed.

Iran again announced today that it would attack preemptively any country which it perceives as a threat to it's national interests. Israel and Iran have traded threats for some time. This comes as tension in the Mideast grows and the IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear monitoring body, begins another set of talks with the Iranian Government in an attempt to ascertain the full scope of Iran's nuclear intentions.

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